Nigeria to overhaul existing malaria control strategies
The Federal Government of Nigeria has called for a thorough review of existing strategies to address the persistent challenge of malaria in the country.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, conveyed this appeal during a courtesy visit by partners from the Malaria Alliance, RBM Malaria Partnership, and Nigerian officials of the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Malaria Programme in Abuja.
Despite decades of efforts to curb the malaria scourge, Prof. Pate highlighted the nation's lack of significant progress in combating malaria. He pointed out that Nigeria shoulders a substantial 30% of the global malaria burden, reporting 68 million cases and 194,000 deaths annually as of 2021. This alarming situation has prompted the minister to call for urgent intervention strategies.
“Nigeria is still struggling with a high burden of malaria, despite implementing programmes to eliminate the disease for over 70 years. As of 2021, the country accounted for 30 percent of the global burden, with an estimated 68 million cases and 194,000 deaths annually," the Daily Post NG quotes.
While advocating for a comprehensive review of the current approaches to combating the public health crisis, the minister stressed the need for innovative and effective measures.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu supports initiatives to retrain health workers and enhance primary health centres as part of the Health Sector Renewal Investment Programme. Strong collaboration with partners like the Malaria Alliance, RBM Partnership, and WHO Global Malaria Programme is crucial for success,” he said.
The call for a strategic review comes as the government aims to address the challenges impeding progress in the fight against malaria and enhance overall public health.
