Rédaction Africa Links 24 with George Kaduna
Published on 2024-02-24 09:17:42
Nigeria’s Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, has raised concern about the significant burden of malaria in Nigeria and called for a reevaluation of the country’s strategies to combat the disease. Despite implementing programs to eliminate malaria 70 years ago, Nigeria still accounts for 30% of the global burden, with an estimated 68 million cases and 190,000 deaths from the disease in 2021.
Mr. Pate shared these concerning statistics in a post on his official Twitter account following a meeting with the Malaria Alliance, RBM Malaria Partnership, and WHO Global Malaria Programme. The purpose of the meeting was to review existing efforts and rally technical and financial resources towards eradicating malaria, as Nigeria has not made substantial progress in reducing the burden despite decades of intervention.
Collaborating with partners, the Health Ministry is exploring various initiatives anchored on the Presidential Initiative to eliminate malaria from the country. These initiatives include the development of domestic manufacturing of insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs), generic pharmaceuticals, the introduction of safe and cost-effective vaccines, and potentially mosquito-repellent products. Mr. Pate emphasized the importance of leveraging evidence-based tools, robust data systems, and strong collaborations to tailor strategies to the Nigerian and African context.
The sector-wide approach adopted aims to enhance governance, resource coverage, coordinated efforts, and ultimately improve health outcomes that will lead to success in eliminating malaria. Additionally, Mr. Pate highlighted the need to bolster the primary healthcare system for malaria testing and early treatment, especially for vulnerable populations like children and antenatal mothers. President Bola Tinubu’s support as the African Union Champion for Human Resources for Health and Community Health Delivery involves retraining 120,000 frontline health workers to strengthen the primary healthcare system.
As part of the Health Sector Renewal Investment Programme, the number of operational primary health centers in Nigeria is expected to increase from 8,800 to over 17,000 in the next three years. Mr. Pate stressed the critical juncture the health sector is at and expressed confidence in Nigeria’s ability to leverage political will, human resources, and partnerships to make significant strides in the fight against malaria.
In conclusion, Nigeria is facing a pressing challenge with malaria, and concerted efforts, strategic partnerships, and innovative initiatives are required to eliminate this disease that continues to disproportionately impact the country. Mr. Pate’s call to action underscores the urgency of the situation and highlights the opportunity to save millions of lives, improve health outcomes, and realize the developmental potential of the nation through the eradication of malaria.
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