Nigeria records $3b yearly loss to malaria

Scourge accounts for 11% of maternal mortality rate

The National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) and the Society for Family Health (SFH) have raised the alarm concerning the threat malaria poses to Nigeria, citing a loss of $3 billion yearly.

In a statement yesterday, the collaborating partners in the global fund for malaria called for enhanced information and better use of malaria commodities to reduce the incidence and harmful effects of the disease.

They canvassed for new funding model to reduce the scourge and also sought media and health authorities’ assistance to intensify awareness and education about the disease.

The National Co-ordinator of NMEP, Dr. Audu Bala Mohammed and Managing Director of SFH, Mr. Bright Ekweremadu, appealed jointly to the media to increase the visibility of malaria and showcase available interventions in the country. They also noted that while the statistics are sobering, Nigeria has made significant progress over the last five years in the fight against malaria.