Federal Government, on Tuesday, said malaria has caused a huge financial drain on the Nigerian economy, noting that, at least, $1.1billion, is lost to malaria annually.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, made the disclosure at the inaugural meeting of the Advisory on Malaria Elimination in Nigeria (AMEN), in Abuja.
He said malaria has continued to exert an unacceptable toll on Nigeria with 27 percent of the global malaria cases, and 31 percent of the global malaria deaths. “Nigeria bears the heaviest burden of this disease. In 2022, over 180,000 Nigerian children under the age of five, lost their lives to malaria, a tragedy we have the tools to prevent,” he stated.
The Minister assured that the Federal Government was resolute in its commitment to eliminate malaria, stressing that the launch of an advisory body was a bold and decisive step to confront and address the challenge that has undermined the health and economic growth of the country.
He further stated that malaria elimination is a critical component of the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII) framework for transforming the health sector, hence, the call on stakeholders, particularly the traditional and religious leaders, to drive grassroots support and influence behaviour change.
The Minister further emphasised that the advocacy approach would complement AMEN in promoting effective and efficient use of insecticide-treated nets, chemo-prevention and vaccines in the fight against malaria.
Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom, represented by Dr. Chukwuma Anyaike, the Director of Public Health Department in the Ministry, stated that the renewed commitment by the government has brought a new life to the effort to eliminate the disease.
She said that AMEN is made up of globally renowned experts under the leadership of Prof. Rose Leke, charged with advancing evidence-based solutions that address identified challenges in combating malaria, 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.
