World Malaria Day: Minister of Health Gives Press Briefing

As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to mark World Malaria day, the disease still remains a major public health challenge in the country.

Experts are of the view that not using local content is inhibiting the fight against the disease.

With the theme “Time to deliver zero malaria: invest, innovate, implement,”, this year’s celebration focuses on the implementation of strategies to reach especially the vulnerable age group children under 5 years and Pregnant women.

The Federal government has therefore been called upon to ensure adequate domestic financing and local manufacturing of malaria drugs and commodities to reduce the scourge of malaria in Nigeria.

Malaria remains a significant public health challenge with an estimated 97 million cases and 300,000 deaths annually. Although progress has been made in reducing the burden of this disease with the introduction of the RN2 vaccine, much work still needs to be done to eliminate it”.

Nigeria alone accounted for (31.3%) of global malaria deaths, followed by the democratic republic of the Congo (12.6%), the united republic of Tanzania (4.1%), and Niger (3.9%).

Meanwhile The Federal Government has said the RTS,S/AS01 malaria vaccine is expected to be in the country by April 2024.

The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, who spoke at a press briefing in commemoration of World Malaria Day on Tuesday said Nigeria has applied for the RTS,S/AS01 malaria vaccine in the third application widow for the vaccine which ended April 18, 2023.