The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Pate, has disclosed that Nigeria suffers an annual economic loss exceeding $1.1 billion due to the impact of malaria on productivity and out-of-pocket healthcare spending.
Pate revealed this during the inaugural meeting of the Advisory Body on Malaria Elimination in Nigeria (AMEN), held in Abuja. He described malaria as not only a health crisis but also a developmental and economic emergency requiring immediate action.
Speaking at the event, the minister noted that malaria accounts for 27 percent of global cases and 31 percent of deaths, with Nigeria bearing the heaviest burden of the disease worldwide. He further lamented that over 180,000 Nigerian children under five years of age died from malaria in 2022 alone.
“Malaria reduces productivity, increases health expenditures, and exacerbates poverty,” Pate said. “This annual loss to our GDP is a reminder of the urgent need for its elimination. The establishment of AMEN is a bold and decisive step in this regard.”
According to a statement issued by the ministry’s Deputy Director of Information and Public Relations, Alaba Balogun, malaria elimination is a critical component of the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, a framework designed to transform the health sector in alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the current administration.
The minister highlighted the role of traditional and religious leaders in driving grassroots support and behavioral change, which he said would complement AMEN’s efforts to promote the use of insecticide-treated nets, chemoprevention, and vaccines.
In his remarks, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, highlighted the critical role of AMEN in guiding the country towards a malaria-free future.
“The advisory body comprises globally renowned experts tasked with providing evidence-based solutions to tackle the current challenges of malaria. For us to succeed, the private sector, international partners, healthcare workers, and communities must work collaboratively,” Salako said.
He added that the body is also charged with ensuring that malaria elimination is prioritised in budgets and plans at all levels of government while establishing accountability frameworks to sustain progress.
The advisory body, chaired by Professor Rose Leke, marks a significant milestone in the fight against malaria in Nigeria. As part of its mandate, the group will focus on advancing practical and evidence-based interventions to eliminate the disease
