Get Guardian on Google…As Nigeria’s Malaria Prevalence Drops to 15.2%
The National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) has implemented larval source management in six World Bank-supported states, as part of efforts to diversify malaria control tools and addressing mosquito breeding sites at the source through targeted, evidence-based environmental interventions.
The six World Bank-supported states where larval Source Management was implemented include Abia, Borno, Ekiti, Lagos, Ondo, and Rivers.
In addition, NMEP has distributed locally produced next-generation insecticide-treated mosquito nets through routine antenatal care and immunisation services.
The National Coordinator of the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), Dr Nnenna Ogbuluafor, disclosed this at the End-of-Project Dissemination and Transition Forum of the IMPACT Project, noting that Nigeria’s malaria prevalence has dropped from 27 per cent to 15.2 per cent, representing a significant decline recorded during the implementation of the World Bank-funded Immunisation-Plus and Malaria Progress by Accelerating Coverage and Transforming Services (IMPACT) Project.
She attributed the progress to sustained investments and interventions supported by the World Bank.
Ogbuluafor, who described the achievement as a major milestone in Nigeria’s fight against malaria, said the reduction was captured in the 2025 Nigeria Malaria Indicator Survey (MIS).
She noted that the project, jointly implemented by the NMEP and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), was designed to reduce mortality among children under five and pregnant women while improving access to immunisation and malaria prevention and treatment services.
According to her, the project also enabled Nigeria to conduct the 2025 Malaria Indicator Survey with minimal support from other development partners, describing it as a first for the country.She explained that the larval source management intervention represented the largest deployment of the complementary vector-control strategy in the country.
Ogbuluafor also highlighted the phased introduction of the Affordable Diagnostics and Medicines Facility for Malaria (ADMFm), which focuses on NAFDAC-approved local manufacturers and seeks to improve access to affordable malaria diagnostics and medicines through patent and proprietary medicine vendors in rural and underserved communities.
Among other achievements, she listed the development of the National Malaria Strategic Plan 2026–2030,
Beyond malaria prevention and treatment, she said the project had strengthened Nigeria’s health system through improved digital data management, pharmaceutical quality assurance, supply-chain operations, entomological surveillance and pharmacovigilance.
She, however, called for sustained commitment from government and stakeholders to protect the gains recorded, particularly in malaria-endemic states.
Ogbuluafor expressed appreciation to the World Bank, federal and state health authorities, project implementation teams and communities for their contributions, insisting that the foundations laid by the project must be preserved and expanded.
She said the priority going forward should be to sustain the interventions and ensure that the progress made translates into lasting improvements in the health and survival of Nigerian women and children.
Also speaking, the Executive Director of NPHCDA, Dr Muyi Aina, said the IMPACT Project had made significant contributions to immunisation coverage and access to essential malaria interventions.
Aina disclosed that investments under the project contributed to reaching 16.6 million children with immunisation services, while the proportion of women receiving the recommended three doses of intermittent preventive treatment for malaria in pregnancy (IPT3) increased from 31 per cent to 33 per cent.
He also announced a four per cent increase in the proportion of children using insecticide-treated mosquito nets.
The NPHCDA boss described the project as an important investment in Nigeria’s primary healthcare system, particularly in addressing inequalities in access to essential health services.
He stressed that the end of the project should not mean the end of the interventions, urging state governments, local governments and communities to take ownership of the infrastructure, equipment, systems and other assets established through the programme.
According to him, ensuring continuity of implementation and strengthening existing mechanisms would be critical to sustaining the achievements.
The IMPACT Project was implemented with support from the World Bank and involved collaboration among federal and state health institutions, development partners, non-state actors and beneficiary communities.
