Nigeria Accounts For 30% Global Malaria Burden — Minister of Health

30% of the world's cases of malaria are in Nigeria, according to the minister of health

Muhammad Pate, Nigeria's Minister of Health and Social Welfare, has called for an evaluation of the nation's malaria control measures while also expressing concern over the prevalence of the disease there.

Mr. Pate claims that Nigeria still carries 30% of the global malaria burden 70 years after programs to eradicate the disease were put in place. As of 2021, the country is estimated to have 68 million cases and 190,000 malaria-related deaths.

The minister disclosed this information following a meeting with the WHO Global Malaria Programme, RBM Malaria Partnership, and Malaria Alliance in a post on his official X account.

He explained that after decades of attempts to lessen the burden, the country had not made much progress in eliminating the disease, so the purpose of the meeting was to reevaluate efforts and mobilize financial and technical resources towards this end.

Partnerships for the eradication of malaria

According to Mr. Pate, the health ministry is taking into consideration partnerships and initiatives that are “anchored on the Presidential Initiative to unlock health sector value chain, to eradicate malaria from the country.”

Among the initiatives are the introduction of appropriate, safe, and affordable vaccines, the development of domestic manufacturing of insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs), generic pharmaceuticals, and possibly mosquito-repellent products.

“The sector-wide route adopted is geared towards improving governance, coverage resources, aligned efforts and amplifying the impact of health outcomes which will lead to success in that regard,” He Noted.

Bolstering the PHC system

Mr. Pate went on to say that in order to test for malaria and treat it early, particularly for children and expectant mothers, the initiatives also call for strengthening the primary healthcare system.

According to him, 120,000 frontline health workers are being supported in their retraining by President Bola Tinubu, who serves as the African Union's Champion for Human Resources for Health and Community Health Delivery.

He continued by saying that as part of the Health Sector Renewal Investment Programme, the number of operational primary health centers in the nation will nearly double over the next three years, from 8,800 to over 17,000.

“There's a tide in the affairs of every nation which seized as the crest leads to saving millions of lives and offers good returns on development investments,” he said.

“Nigeria's health sector is at such a crucial moment now; and we have the requisite political will in our President, ample human health resources, a willing coalition of partners, and tools to ride this tide and we will,” he said.