Nigeria needs N1.89trn to reduce malaria prevalence — Ministry of Health

Ministers of Health, Osagie Ehanire, and the Minister of State for Health, Joseph Nkama on Tuesday stated that Nigeria needs N1.89 trillion to reduce malaria prevalence and mortality by 2025.

They said this as President Muhammadu Buhari inaugurated Nigeria End Malaria Council (NEMC) while appointing Dangote as Chairman.

The ministers said since 2010, Nigeria had recorded a continuous decline in malaria from 42 per cent in 2010, 27 per cent in 2015 to 23 per cent in 2018.

They attributed the decline to the thorough implementation of the National Malaria Strategic Plan (NMSP).

According to them, the funding gap had impacted the implementation of the malaria programmes in Nigeria.

Nkama said: ‘‘The biggest challenge confronting us, which prevents the elimination of malaria to ensure a malaria-free nation in the shortest possible time is inadequate finances to fund the NMSP.

‘‘We are currently implementing NMSP of 2021 to 2025, with the intent to achieve a parasitic prevalence of less than 10 per cent and reduce mortality attributable to malaria to less than 50 deaths per 1000 live births by the year 2025.

”It will take about N1.89 trillion to implement this plan.

‘‘However, in the first year of its implementation we had an estimated deficit of over N150 billion and in 2022, we already have a deficit of over N170 billion.’’