Nigerian govt seeks strategy overhaul to tackle malaria scourge

The Federal Government has called for a review of the country’s strategies to combat the malaria burden.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, made this call on Friday in Abuja when partners from the Malaria Alliance, RBM Malaria Partnership, and Nigerian officials of WHO Global Malaria Programme paid him a courtesy visit.

He said the country had not made significant progress despite decades of efforts to reduce the malaria scourge.

According to the minister, Nigeria bore 30 per cent of the global malaria burden, with 68 million cases and 194,000 deaths annually as at 2021, prompting a 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.

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“As at 2021, the country accounted for 30 per cent of the global burden, with an estimated 68 million cases and 194,000 deaths annually,” he lamented.

The minister advocated a comprehensive review of existing approaches to combat the public health crisis.

“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.

Newspot reports that malaria is primarily transmitted through contact with infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.