1 week Ago By Lara Adejoro
Lara Adejoro The World Health Organisation and other stakeholders have called on the Federal Government to reduce dependence on external funding and increase data availability for malaria elimination in the country. The appeal was made at a stakeholders’ engagement on “Rethinking Malaria Elimination”, an initiative to help redefine strategies in the fight against the disease in the country. PUNCH reports that malaria—a life-threatening disease caused by parasites, transmitted to humans through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes—occurs regularly and is widespread across Nigeria.
The World Health Organisation estimates that Nigeria had nearly 67 million cases in 2022 accounting for 27 per cent of the global malaria burden. Also in 2022, Nigeria accounted for 31 per cent of global deaths and 38 per cent of global deaths in children under the age of five. Suggesting new approaches to fighting the disease at the event in Abuja on Friday, stakeholders urged the government to accelerate its effort to eliminate malaria by increasing the funds allocated to the malaria elimination programme annually.
The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti said the organisation is behind Nigeria’s ambitious plan to accelerate progress towards malaria elimination. She urged the government to increase data availability and access for both government agencies at national and sub-national levels and for public use. “For Nigeria to accelerate its effort, it nee.
