FG reaffirms commitment towards elimination of malaria

…Says, Nigeria accounts for 25% of global malaria burden

Doosuur Iwambe, Abuja

The Federal government has assured Nigerians that government was fully committed towards malaria elimination in the country.

This is just as the minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, revealed that malaria is still a public health challenge as Nigeria still accounts for 25% of the global malaria burden. We also account for 19% of deaths from malaria.

Speaking at the commemoration ouf the 2019 World Malaria Day with a theme, “Zero Malaria Starts with me” in Abuja Thursday, Professor Adewole said that the Federal government had developed innovative programs that would increase access to funds for malaria program implementation.

“Every Nigerian has a role to play from the artisan on the street to the Chief Executive in the office, there is a simple thing we can do, keeping our environment clean, sleeping inside long lasting insecticidal Nets and so forth.

“According to world health report, Nigeria still accounts for 25% of the global malaria burden, we also account for 19% of deaths from malaria, Adewole said.

He said the Federal government was in the process of setting up an expert group comprising of researchers in the field of malaria to guide on country strategies for malaria elimination in the country.

The minister said that even though, funding for malaria control has remained relatively stable since 2010, Nigeria need to improve on the level of our investment to achieve a reduction of at least 40% in malaria case incidence and mortality rates globally by 2020.

He said that the theme of the celebration is “Zero Malaria Starts with Me”, and slogan is “Join Me” is apt and reflects our commitment to the achievement of a malaria free Nigeria.

According to the minister, the slogan reveals the nations desire to have all Nigerians come on board in the fight against malaria.

“Every Nigerian has a role to play from the artisan on the street to the Chief Executive in the office.

There are simple things that we can do: Keep our environment clean; Sleep inside the Long lasting Insecticidal Nets; When feverish please go for a test ; and If positive ensure that you are treated with Artemisinin based Combination Therapy (ACT).

“As you all know on April 25, 2000, during the African Summit, African leaders from 44 countries committed themselves to intensive efforts to combat the scourge of malaria.

They agreed to use the 25th of April of every year to draw attention to the menace of malaria and elicit support for its control.

The celebration began as the Africa Malaria Day and was later renamed the World Malaria Day.

“We are fully committed to malaria elimination. We have developed innovative programmes that will increase access to funds for malaria programme implementation.

Some of which include the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, the Save One Million Lives Project and we are also soliciting for additional funding support for malaria programme.

Let me now intimate you with the progress and milestones that we have recorded so far.

“We are recording a steady reduction in the malaria burden. The 2013 NDHS showed that malaria was responsible for 2 out of 10 deaths in children less than 5 years, as against 30% in previous years.

The NMIS 2015 showed a remarkable reduction in the malaria prevalence from 42% (NMIS 2010) to 27% which resulted from a strong commitment from government and partners in their efforts to stem malaria.

We look forward to the results of the NDHS 2018 for data on the current status of malaria”, he added.