The Federal Government has revealed that an estimated 55 million cases and nearly 90,000 malaria deaths occur each year in Nigeria.
The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, stated this at a press briefing to commemorate the World Malaria Day, with the theme ‘Time to deliver zero malaria, invest, innovate, implement.
Dr. Osagie, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mamman Mamuda, said despite efforts by the government and its partners to combat the effects of malaria in the country, Nigeria still accounts for 27 percent of global malaria cases and 32 percent of global malaria deaths.
He further stated that Malaria also has an adverse effect on the economy as it is the major cause of absenteeism in schools, offices, businesses and markets thereby reducing the income of families and increasing the hardship of out-of-pocket expenses made by Nigerians for diagnosis and treatment.
“It is also important to note that successful control of malaria will increase productivity, improve health, reduce school absenteeism, reduce poverty and facilitate the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals and we must continue to fight to achieve zero malaria by 2030, in line with the World Health Organisation’s global technical strategy”, he said.
Dr. Osagie however called for investment to defeat malaria and step-up innovative strategies for the betterment of the country.
Writing by Onyinyechi Ogbu; Editing by Chinasa Ossai and Annabel Nwachukwu