Federal Government Strategises Against Malaria, Launches Advisory On Elimination
Princess-Ekwi Ajide
The Federal Government of Nigeria says malaria is an economic and developmental emergency that must be eliminated and not just a health crisis.
The Coordinating Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Pate, who gave the description at the inaugural meeting of the Advisory on Malaria Elimination in Nigeria (AMEN), Abuja, stated that the federal government is resolute in its commitment to eliminating malaria.
The launch of an advisory body, accordingto the Minister, is therefore a bold and decisive step to confronting and addressing a wicked problem that has undermined the health and economic growth of the country.
He said Malaria continues to exert an unacceptable toll on Nigeria with 27% of global malaria cases and 31% of global malaria deaths – showing that Nigeria bears the heaviest burden of this disease.
Professor Pate, noted that in 2022, over 180,000 Nigerian children under the age of five lost their lives to malaria, calling it a tragedy which the country has the tools to prevent.
The Coordinating Minister also declared that Malaria reduces productivity, increases out-of-pocket health expenditures and, compounds the challenges of poverty leaving the annual loss to Nigeria’s GDP from malaria at above $1.1 billion, which he says is a stark reminder of the economic imperative of elimination.
Professor Pate further described the elimination of malaria as a critical component of the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII) framework for transforming the health sector, in alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present administration and acknowledged the urgency of the task as reflected in the National Malaria Strategic Plan 2021-2025 to amongst others reduce malaria prevalence to below 10% and halve malaria- related mortality by 50 deaths per 1,000 live births.
The Coordinating Minister highlighted the importance of traditional and religious leaders driving grassroots support and influencing behaviour change, saying that advocacy approach, will complement AMEN, in promoting use of insecticide- treated nets, chemoprevention and vaccines.
Earlier, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako affirmed the Advisory body as a group of experts who will provide evidence based advisory to help the country not only to reduce its unacceptable malaria burden but set the country on a realistic path to a malaria free status.
In her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Daju Kachollom, represented by the Director Public Health Department in the Ministry, Dr. Chukwuma Anyaike, noted that the renewed commitment by the present administration has brought a new life to the effort to eliminate the disease.
The Advisory on Malaria Elimination in Nigeria, (AMEN), is made up of globally renowned experts under the leadership of Professor Rose Leke; and charged with refocusing on advancing evidence-based solutions that address current challenges, ensuring that malaria elimination is prioritised in the budgets and plans of all levels of government and creating frameworks for accountability that ensure sustained progress.
