As the world marks World Malaria Day, Nigeria, unfortunately, remains one of the countries most affected by this preventable and treatable disease.
Malaria continues to claim thousands of lives, mostly children and pregnant women, and drains the country’s resources.
It’s time for Nigeria to intensify efforts to eliminate this monster.
Malaria’s impact on Nigeria is staggering. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Nigeria accounts for 27% of global malaria cases and 24% of global malaria deaths.
In 2020 alone, malaria killed over 200,000 Nigerians.
The economic burden is equally significant, with malaria estimated to cost the country over N1 trillion annually.
The reasons for Nigeria’s struggle with malaria are multifaceted. Inadequate healthcare infrastructure, insufficient funding, and poor access to preventive measures like insecticide-treated bed nets and indoor residual spraying contribute to the persistence of the disease.
However, there are reasons for optimism. Nigeria has made progress in reducing malaria cases and deaths since 2010.
The country has also developed a National Malaria Strategic Plan, which outlines a comprehensive approach to tackling the disease.
To accelerate progress, Nigeria must prioritize malaria elimination. This requires increased funding, improved healthcare infrastructure, and enhanced access to preventive measures.
The government should also promote awareness campaigns to educate citizens about malaria prevention and treatment.
On this World Malaria Day, we urge the Nigerian government to renew its commitment to eliminating malaria.
We must work together to ensure that every citizen has access to malaria prevention and treatment.
Only then can we hope to defeat this monster and build a healthier, more prosperous Nigeria.