Federal government said significant reduction or complete eradication of malaria will lead to a major boost in economic growth.
Special Assistant to the National Coordinator, National Malaria Elimination Programme, NMEP, Dr Aminu Umar said this during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, Sunday in Abuja.
The World Malaria Report 2024 says Nigeria bears the highest burden of malaria globally, accounting for 27 percent of global cases and 31 percent of global deaths.
In addition, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Pate, disclosed in 2024 that Nigeria’s economy lost over $1.1 billion d annually from the effects of malaria.
Umar, however, emphasised that reducing malaria cases could reverse this trend.
He explained that a healthier population would mean more people actively contributing to the workforce, leading to increased productivity and economic growth.
“Additionally, government would save significantly on healthcare expenditure, allowing funds to be redirected towards other areas of national development,” he said.
According to Umar, malaria places a major strain on Nigeria’s healthcare system, with a substantial portion of the healthcare budget and resources dedicated to its treatment and prevention.
This, he noted, limits the resources available for other critical medical needs, leading to an overstretched infrastructure.
“The persistent presence of malaria leads to a high demand for hospital beds and medical personnel, further straining the already limited healthcare resources,” he said.
He added that malaria adversely affects the well-being of citizens, reducing school attendance among children and workforce participation among adults.
“The constant burden has led to decreased productivity and economic stagnation.
“It has contributed to high mortality rate, particularly among vulnerable populations such as children and pregnant women,” Umar stated.
He noted that the continuous financial burden of malaria treatment worsens poverty among families and communities.
In spite of these challenges, Umar reaffirmed that eliminating it remains a top priority for the federal government.
He pointed to government’s Rethinking Malaria Initiative, under which key recommendations are being implemented to drive more effective malaria elimination efforts.
He added that with support from partners, evidence-based interventions had been introduced to achieve significant progress, including increased access to and usage of insecticide-treated mosquito nets.
“Initiating a pilot programme for Larval Source Management in six states for the first time, improving the availability of malaria treatment and diagnostic services across all states, including those impacted by the recent pause in American aid.”
He also mentioned ongoing efforts to strengthen health systems and improve malaria surveillance and data collection across the country.
“Nonetheless, despite these efforts, there is still a long way to go before malaria is completely eliminated in Nigeria,” Umar said.
He stressed that continuous government commitment and strong partnership with international organisations are crucial to achieving this goal. (NAN)
