The World Health Organization (WHO) and other stakeholders are calling on the Nigerian government to ramp up domestic funding and improve data availability to accelerate malaria elimination efforts in the country.
At a recent stakeholders’ engagement on “Rethinking Malaria Elimination,” experts emphasized the need for a fresh approach to combatting the disease, which remains a significant public health burden in Nigeria.
Malaria, a parasitic infection transmitted by mosquitoes, is widespread across the country, with an estimated 67 million cases recorded in 2022, representing 27% of the global burden. Furthermore, Nigeria accounted for a staggering 31% of global malaria deaths and 38% of deaths in children under five that same year.
Stakeholders urged the government to increase annual allocations for the national malaria elimination programme. Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, reiterated the organization’s support for Nigeria’s ambitious plan to eliminate malaria but stressed the importance of data availability and accessibility.
“For Nigeria to accelerate progress,” Dr Moeti said, “it needs to invest more in gathering data from local communities across the country. This will not only improve efficiency but also reduce fragmentation in the fight against malaria.”
Dr Moeti highlighted the potential of technology to enhance data management within the healthcare sector, enabling targeted interventions based on real-time information. Collaboration across all levels of government and with the private sector was also emphasized as crucial for success.
Furthering Dr Moeti’s call for financial independence, Soji Adeyi, a Senior Associate at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, emphasized the need to reduce reliance on external funding. “We need a new approach,” Adeyi stated, highlighting the longstanding issue of insufficient funding hindering progress.
Similarly, Dr Abdu Mukhtar, National Coordinator of the unlocking healthcare value-chain initiative, advocated for local production of medical supplies, including anti-malarial medications. This, he argued, would not only improve access to treatment but also address the specific needs of Nigeria’s population and terrain.
Prof Mohammad Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, acknowledged the challenges and outlined the government’s multi-pronged approach. This includes deploying readily available, safe, and effective tools like mosquito nets, testing kits, and affordable antimalarial drugs. Additionally, the government plans to leverage the influence of political, traditional, and private sector leaders to reach remote communities.
The fight against malaria requires a renewed focus on domestic funding, robust data collection and sharing, and a collaborative effort across all sectors. By implementing these recommendations, Nigeria can chart a more effective course towards eliminating this devastating disease.