During the inaugural meeting of the Advisory on Malaria Elimination in Nigeria (AMEN) held in Abuja last week, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister for Health & Social Welfare, emphasized the urgency of addressing malaria as a health crisis, as well as an economic and developmental emergency.
The Coordinating Minister reaffirmed the federal government’s unwavering commitment to eradicating malaria and highlighted the inclusion of the malaria vaccine as a crucial step in achieving this goal.
He said:” Malaria continues to exert an unacceptable toll on Nigeria With 27% of global malaria cases and 31% of global malaria deaths, our country bears the heaviest burden of this disease. In 2022, over 180,000 Nigerian children under the age of five lost their lives to malaria- a tragedy we have the tools to prevent”.
On its economic consequences, the Coordinating Minister emphatically declared: “This is not just a health crisis; it is an economic and developmental emergency. Malaria reduces productivity, increases out-of-pocket health expenditures and, compounds the challenges of poverty. The annual loss to Nigeria’s GDP from malaria exceeds $1.1billion, a stark reminder of the economic imperative of elimination.”
Malaria elimination, as highlighted by Prof. Pate, is an essential element of the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII) aimed at transforming the health sector in accordance with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the current administration.
In a recent announcement, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) revealed via its X handle that malaria vaccines will now be integrated into the national routine immunization program.
The agency noted that this vaccine will protect millions of children and bring the nation closer to achieving a malaria-free future. The initial phase of the malaria vaccine distribution will begin in Kebbi and Bayelsa states.
Malaria remains one of the most lethal diseases in Nigeria and Africa, claiming the lives of hundreds of thousands of children under five each year. Nigeria represents about 27% of the global malaria burden and 31% of malaria-related deaths worldwide.
Earlier this month, the federal government received one million doses of the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine, donated by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, with support from UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO). The R21 vaccine was developed by researchers at Oxford University and produced by the Serum Institute of India and Novavax. Nigeria is among the first countries globally to endorse this vaccine, which is intended solely for the prevention of malaria in children, not adults.
Dr. Muyi Aina, the Executive Director of NPHCDA, stated that the vaccine will be administered to children aged five months to 15 months as part of the routine immunization schedule.
“The malaria vaccine is here and will now be part of the National Immunization Schedule, offering protection to millions of children and moving us closer to a malaria-free future.
“The introduction will be expanded to other states and integrated into our national routine immunisation schedule, as we receive additional doses.
“The second phase will target 19 states and FCT, while the third phase will target the remaining 15 States. Both phases are scheduled for 2025,” the agency said.