The United States has reaffirmed its commitment to improving malaria prevention and treatment in Nigeria, a country with a significant burden of the disease, on the occasion of World Malaria Day. This announcement was made during an event organized by Nigeria’s National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) and the Federal Ministry of Health in Abuja. Sara Werth, the Deputy Director of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Nigeria Mission, highlighted the significant contributions made by the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) in the fight against malaria, not only in Nigeria but also globally.
Since its establishment in 2000, PMI has played a vital role in saving over 10.6 million lives and preventing approximately 1.7 billion malaria infections worldwide. In Nigeria, specifically, the number of malaria deaths decreased from 194,000 in 2021 to 188,480 in 2022, indicating a significant decline. This success is a testament to the ongoing efforts and strategies employed by PMI to tackle the malaria burden. Werth underlined the importance of prevention in achieving such results and highlighted the broader success of PMI’s global program.
Despite these achievements, challenges remain. The World Health Organization (WHO) has listed Nigeria among the top five contributors to the global increase in malaria cases in 2022. Furthermore, Nigeria was notably absent as neighboring West African countries such as Benin, Liberia, and Sierra Leone commenced large-scale malaria vaccine programs aimed at saving thousands of children annually. This initiative marks a significant step in regional health cooperation from which Nigeria is currently disconnected.
The 2023 Global Malaria Report revealed alarming statistics, with 249 million malaria cases recorded across 85 endemic countries in 2022. The African region alone accounted for 94% of these cases and 95% of the deaths, underscoring the severe impact of the disease on the continent. With nearly 67 million cases, Nigeria alone constituted 27% of the global malaria burden, 31% of global malaria deaths, and 38% of global deaths in children under five.
The U.S. government has invested over $914 million in Nigeria’s malaria control efforts since 2011, averaging approximately $73 million annually. This investment not only brings substantial financial resources but also a wealth of global expertise aimed at addressing the significant health challenges in Nigeria. Werth called on the Nigerian government to prioritize malaria within its health sector strategy for 2023-2026 and to use data and evidence more effectively to enhance program efficiency and outcomes.
Dr. Walter Mulombo, WHO Country Representative in Nigeria, emphasized the disproportionate impact of malaria on vulnerable populations including pregnant women, infants, and displaced persons. He noted that climate change and humanitarian crises exacerbate these challenges by disrupting access to essential prevention and treatment services. Mulombo praised the collective efforts that have led to significant progress in controlling malaria but stressed the need for increased community involvement in planning and prevention efforts.
The upcoming stakeholder roundtable aims to further these discussions and develop strategies to optimize resources for combating malaria in Nigeria. Mulombo encouraged robust participation in this meeting as a crucial step toward achieving a malaria-free future for the country.
The WHO’s recent endorsement of the RTS, S/AS01 malaria vaccine, and the newer R21/Matrix-M vaccine are set to transform the landscape of malaria prevention. These vaccines, which have shown significant efficacy in reducing severe malaria cases among children, are poised for broad-scale deployment across Africa with support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. Gavi has announced plans to roll out these vaccines in 30 African countries next year, representing a major advancement in regional public health.
The U.S. continues to be a key partner in Nigeria’s fight against malaria, providing substantial support and advocating for enhanced strategies to tackle the disease effectively. As global and local efforts converge with new vaccine rollouts, there is renewed hope for reducing the malaria burden significantly in the coming years.
Source: The Guardian
