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FG Declares Malaria Elimination Priority

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The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako.

The Federal Government of Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to eliminating malaria, recognising it as a critical public health challenge with significant socio-economic implications.

Efforts are being intensified to reduce the prevalence of malaria and accelerate progress toward achieving a malaria-free nation.

Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako made this known on Sunday in Abuja through a statement signed by deputy director of information and public relations at the ministry, Alaba Balogun.

Salako reiterated that malaria elimination remains a priority in President Bola Tinubu’s administration, given its profound impact on health and economic productivity.

Speaking during a courtesy visit by a delegation from the Malaria Consortium, led by the national coordinator of the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), Dr. Nnenna Ogbulafor, Salako outlined the government’s initiatives to combat malaria effectively.

The minister highlighted the government’s progress through its sector wide approach(SWAp) initiative, a strategy fostering collaboration between federal and sub-national governments. “This strategy enables better tracking of annual operations and implementation plans at the state level under a unified healthcare policy,” he stated.

Salako also emphasised the role of digital health in improving malaria intervention outcomes. “We have the Digital in Health initiative, a nationwide effort to digitalise healthcare at all levels – primary, secondary and tertiary,” he said.

Commending the Malaria Consortium for its independent assessments of government interventions, the Minister pointed to the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) as a critical tool for strengthening primary healthcare, including malaria management.

“The BHCPF covers malaria interventions, and under this administration, its management has been reorganised to ensure more regular fund disbursement,” Salako said. He further assured the delegation of continued government support, adding, “Nigeria values and supports the Malaria Consortium in delivering its mandate.”

Recognising the Malaria Consortium as a vital global partner, Salako expressed appreciation for its contributions to malaria eradication efforts in Nigeria.

Director of programmes at the Malaria Consortium, Dr. Kolawole Maxwell provided updates on the organisation’s field assessments in northern and southern Nigeria. He emphasised the importance of collaboration with stakeholders, particularly in Kano and Osun states, to improve malaria case management.

Maxwell further highlighted ongoing efforts to enhance the use of mosquito nets, noting, “In the first phase, we are working with stakeholders to understand the factors influencing net usage. The second phase involves leveraging these findings to develop tailored solutions.”

Science Nigeria reports that this reaffirmation of commitment underscores the importance of sustained interventions, collaboration and investment in health systems to achieve the shared goal of eliminating malaria.

Racheal Abujah
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