The Minister of Health, Dr. Khaliru Alhassan, has said that sustained efforts of government in the country against malaria have resulted in decrease in cases of the disease, nationwide. This is even as he tasked states and local governments in the country to strengthen fight against the disease.

 

Dr. Alhassan stated these recently at a Ministerial Press Briefing and the launch of the National Malaria Strategic plan (NMSP) 2014-2020, in Abuja, to commemorate World Malaria Day, 2015.

 

The Minister, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr. Linus Awute, said that “though malaria accounts for 60% of all outpatient hospital visits and 30% of hospital admissions in Nigeria, collaborative efforts from states and local government will go a long way in eliminating the disease.”

 

He revealed that over N3.1 billion was spent in 2014 by federal government on various intervention efforts. This, the minister said, yielded appreciable result with 20% decrease in malaria cases, nationwide.

 

Dr. Alhassan however observed that, if meaningful impact must be made, the need to mobilize against the disease at the local level through awareness creation, environmental and personal hygiene would be key.

 

According to him, efforts put into the fight against malaria since 2000 have significantly reduced maternal and child mortality in Nigeria. He emphasised the need for more collaboration against the scourge among stakeholders.

 

 

The Minister said further: “When we started this journey 15 years ago, the statistics we had were so disturbing. Today we have made progress, but the world has shifted from malaria control to malaria elimination, justifying the theme for this year’s World Malaria Day,’Invest in the future. Defeat malaria.”

 

He explained that the National Malaria Strategic Plan 2014-2020 was the result of a painstaking effort after the grand initiative of the Federal Ministry of Health supported by development partners. He maintained that partnership has enabled the ministry to come up with the strategic plan, which he said is a credible template for mutual accountability in the effort targeted at malaria management and elimination in the country.

 

The National Coordinator, National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), Dr. Nnenna Ezeigwe, in her overview of the National Malaria Strategic Plan explained that the plan was developed as a road map for a coordinated fight against malaria in Nigeria derived from the national Strategic Health Development Plan. “Before now Nigeria had implemented three previous plans. 2001 to 2005 the plan was developed immediately after African summit on roll back malaria on 25 April of 2000, it launched Nigeria into the RBM (Roll Back Malaria) initiative”, she said.

 

BY: MARCUS FATUNMOLE