Malaria now economic, developmental emergency, FG declares
The Federal Government of Nigeria has described malaria as not only a health crisis but also an economic and developmental emergency that demands immediate eradication.
The declaration was made by Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister for Health and Social Welfare, during the inaugural meeting of the Advisory on Malaria Elimination in Nigeria (AMEN), held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.
In his address, Prof. Pate emphasized the government’s unwavering commitment to eliminating malaria, highlighting the launch of AMEN as a decisive step to confront a “wicked problem” that has hindered Nigeria’s health and economic progress.
“Malaria continues to exert an unacceptable toll on Nigeria,” Prof. Pate said. “With 27% of global malaria cases and 31% of global malaria deaths, our country bears the heaviest burden of this disease. In 2022 alone, over 180,000 Nigerian children under five lost their lives to malaria—a tragedy we have the tools to prevent.”
The minister further noted the economic consequences of the disease, describing malaria as a drain on productivity and a factor exacerbating poverty. He revealed that the annual loss to Nigeria’s GDP due to malaria exceeds $1.1 billion, underscoring the urgent economic imperative for its elimination.
Malaria elimination, he stated, is a critical component of the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII), aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the current administration.
He also stressed the importance of traditional and religious leaders in driving grassroots support and behavior change to promote the use of insecticide-treated nets, chemoprevention, and vaccines.
The National Malaria Strategic Plan 2021-2025, which aims to reduce malaria prevalence to below 10% and halve malaria-related mortality by 2025, serves as the roadmap for these efforts.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, affirmed the role of AMEN as a body of experts tasked with providing evidence-based guidance to reduce Nigeria’s malaria burden and set the country on a realistic path to eradication.
“For us to succeed, private sector collaboration, international partnerships, healthcare workers, and community engagement are essential,” Dr. Salako said.
In her welcome address, Permanent Secretary Daju Kachollom, represented by Dr. Chukwuma Anyaike, Director of Public Health at the ministry, commended the renewed commitment of the current administration to the malaria elimination effort.
The AMEN advisory body, chaired by globally renowned expert Prof. Rose Leke, has been charged with advancing evidence-based solutions, prioritizing malaria elimination in government budgets and plans, and creating accountability frameworks to ensure sustained progress.
