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Nigeria is responsible for 31 percent of global malaria fatalities and 27 percent of global cases, as reported in the World Malaria Report 2024.
The nation also represents nearly 40% of worldwide malaria deaths among children under five years old. Each year, Nigeria experiences about 55 million cases of malaria and 90,000 related deaths, with the economic burden of the disease estimated at $1.6 billion (N687 billion) in 2022, and projected to rise to approximately $2.8 billion (N2 trillion) by 2030.
Malaria, a serious illness caused by parasites transmitted through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes, continues to be a pressing public health concern in Nigeria, especially for children under five and pregnant women.
During an event organized by the health ministry in collaboration with the Gates Foundation and other partners to mark World Malaria Day in Abuja, Minister of State for Health, Dr Adekunle Salako, emphasized that Nigeria's statistics highlight a critical need for proactive measures to combat and eradicate this lethal disease within the country.
Salako stated that the federal government plans to implement Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) in 21 eligible states and aims to provide approximately 30 million children under five with preventive malaria medications.
He noted that steps are being taken to enhance access to malaria treatment and diagnostic services across all states, including those affected by the US government's "Stop Work Order."
To facilitate efficient last-mile delivery, an integrated supply chain strategy, overseen by the National Product Supply Chain Management Programme, will ensure that essential medical supplies reach the areas where they are most urgently needed.
The minister mentioned that adequate budgetary provisions have been allocated to address the funding shortfall caused by the suspension of USAID/PMI malaria elimination operations in Nigeria. The government has identified urgent needs for malaria commodities in USAID/PMI-supported health facilities in affected states, which will be acquired through the Procurement and Supply Chain Management Unit in collaboration with the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC).
Salako highlighted that the materials to be procured include Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies (ACTs), Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) kits, injectable artesunate for severe malaria, and Sulfadoxine/Pyrimethamine (SP) combination drugs for pregnant women.
He reiterated the alarming statistics from the World Malaria Report (WMR) 2024, which indicate Nigeria's significant contribution to global malaria cases and deaths, emphasizing the urgent requirement for decisive action to tackle this deadly disease.
He also announced the government's plans to pilot Larval Source Management in six states for the first time, specifically in Abia, Borno, Ekiti, Lagos, Ondo, and Rivers States. Additionally, federal efforts have been made to gradually introduce the Malaria Vaccine in Kebbi and Bayelsa State, helping approximately 80,000 children aged 5-23 months receive the first dose, with plans to extend the vaccine rollout to an additional 17 states in 2025 as part of a broader scale-up strategy.
Eliminating malaria and related diseases is a top priority for this administration, Salako noted, detailing how the government, via the Rethinking Malaria Initiative, has adopted key strategies designed to reshape the narrative and propel a more effective malaria elimination agenda.
These strategies include implementing a costed plan that is tailored based on sub-national needs and setting up an Advisory on Malaria Elimination in Nigeria (AMEN), which engages leading malaria experts globally to provide technical support for the country's elimination efforts.
With partners' assistance, the government has initiated evidence-based interventions aimed at achieving a malaria-free Nigeria by 2030, which includes expanding the availability of insecticide-treated mosquito nets to be implemented in 12 states this year: Akwa Ibom, Delta, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Niger, Ondo, Oyo, Taraba, and Yobe states.
He further stated, "We are working to enhance our health systems and improve our surveillance and data collection methodologies to monitor the spread of malaria more effectively.
This year, we are undertaking two major surveys: The Rapid Impact Assessment and Malaria Indicator Surveys, both of which will aid in evaluating the success of our initiatives and measuring our progress. The Rapid Impact Assessment will yield immediate data on the short-term effects of our actions, while the Malaria Indicator Survey will provide a clearer picture of malaria prevalence and impact in the country."
The minister highlighted that the theme for this year’s World Malaria Day, “Malaria Ends with Us: Reinvest, Reignite, reimagine”, is a call to take ownership and make crucial decisions that will lead us to our goal of eliminating this deadly disease.
The accompanying slogan, “Stay Committed,” serves as a call to action for all stakeholders government, partners, businesses, communities, and individuals to persist in combating malaria.
He stressed the importance of maintaining momentum in efforts to alleviate the malaria burden, stating, "We owe it to the Nigerian people and humanity to keep striving until we accomplish our mission."
The minister also emphasized the vital contribution of the private sector in the fight against malaria, remarking that, “As a crucial player in the country’s economy, the private sector possesses the resources and expertise to bolster our initiatives.
We are collaborating with the Nigeria End Malaria Council, a public-private partnership led by renowned businessman and philanthropist, Aliko Dangote, to mobilize additional funding and resources for the National Malaria Elimination Programme.”
In a discussion with The Guardian, Mr. Auwal Rafsanjani, Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), remarked on the financial strain that malaria treatment imposes on families, often pushing them further into poverty and perpetuating a cycle of illness and economic distress.
He pointed out that the high prices of malaria medications undermine advancements in reducing malaria-related illness and mortality, as many people are unable to access the necessary treatments.
Rafsanjani stated, “The high costs of malaria medications pose a significant obstacle to achieving the 2030 malaria elimination target. Ensuring access to affordable and effective treatment is essential for reducing malaria transmission and achieving elimination.
If we do not address this issue, elevated drug prices will continue to impede progress towards this target, prolonging the pain and loss of life caused by this preventable disease.” He called for measures to boost access to affordable and effective malaria treatment, particularly for vulnerable communities.
He proposed that strategies such as subsidies, price regulations, and public-private partnerships could facilitate this goal. “By enhancing the accessibility and affordability of malaria treatment, Nigeria can advance its progress toward malaria elimination and safeguard the health and welfare of its citizens,” he concluded.
