Nigeria contributes more than 25% of global malaria cases – Minister

Minister of State for Health/Social Welfare, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has said Nigeria contributes more than a quarter of malaria cases in the world.

Alausa said this in Abuja at the inaugural meeting of the Nigeria End Malaria Council (NEMC).

The meeting also saw the inauguration of a team put together by the federal government to reduce the scourge of malaria in the country.

The team is made up of CEO Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, business tycoon Femi Otedola, and renowned banker Tony Elumelu.

Describing the situation as ‘sad’, the minister stated that the ailment contributes about 25 to 30 percent of childhood mortality and about 60 percent of hospital attendance.

According to him, malaria is also a major cause of absenteeism in schools, markets, and workplaces, as well as a significant out-of-pocket expense for most households in the country.

“It gives me great pleasure to be present at this auspicious meeting whose major objective is to contribute to a reduction in the malaria burden and possibly the elimination of malaria in Nigeria, which will ultimately lead to an improvement in the quality of lives of all Nigerians,” he said.

“It is no longer news that Nigeria contributes more than a quarter of global malaria cases and about a third of the over 600,000 deaths, mostly among children and pregnant women. It is sad to note that malaria contributes about 25 to 30 percent of childhood mortality and about 60 percent of hospital attendance.

“Similarly, malaria is a major cause of absenteeism from schools, markets, and workplaces, as well as a major out-of-pocket expense for most households in the country.”

The minister noted that it was common knowledge that Nigeria, which currently has a population of over 200 million, has its entire population at risk of malaria.

He expressed sadness that the implementation of the various interventions, such as the provision of antimalarial medicines, protective interventions like chemo-preventive treatments, and treated nets and insecticides for indoor and outdoor spraying, had remained inadequate to meet the targeted population.