Nigeria Needs N1.89tn To Fight Malaria – FG

The Minister of Health, Prof. Osagie Ehanire, has said that Nigeria needs N1.89 trillion to reduce malaria prevalence and mortality by 2025.

Prof. Ehanire stated this at the inauguration of a 16-member Nigeria End Malaria Council NEMC by President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja.

He said since 2010, Nigeria has been recording a continuous decline in malaria from 42 per cent in 2010, 27 percent in 2015 to 23 percent in 2018.

Quoting figures from the 2010 Nigeria Malaria Indicator Survey and the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, he attributed the decline to the thorough implementation of the National Malaria Strategic Plan (NMSP).

The minister, however, admitted that funding gap had impacted the implementation of the malaria programmes in Nigeria, which necessities the need for N1.89 trillion to reduce malaria prevalence and mortality by 2025.

President Muhammadu Buhari told the 16-member Council headed by the founder of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, to focus beyond improving the quality of life and well-being of Nigerians.

On his choice of Dangote to chair the Council, President Buhari, explained that it was in recognition of the track record and passion of Africa’s richest man in supporting initiatives on various health issues such as polio and primary health care system.

He expressed confidence that Dangote would bring his outstanding achievements to help the country achieve its goal of malaria elimination, adding that a group of eminent personalities with track record, have been selected to work in the Council.

Some of Council members are: Shehu Ibrahim, Permanent Secretary, Office of the Vice President on Political and Economic Affairs, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State and Tony Elumelu.