The World Health Organisation (WHO) and other stakeholders have underscored the importance of investing in data and sustainable strategies to combat malaria in Nigeria.
At the Ministerial Roundtable Meeting in Abuja, WHO’s regional director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, emphasized the critical role of accurate data in accelerating efforts to eliminate malaria.
Dr Moeti stressed the need for Nigeria to prioritize investments in local community data to drive effective interventions.
She commended Nigeria’s increased budgetary allocation to malaria control but emphasized the importance of translating political commitment into tangible action.
The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Mohammed Ali Pate, highlighted the deployment of tools to reduce the malaria burden in the country.
He called for support from partners, including investment in local production of anti-malaria drugs. Prof. Pate emphasized the collective effort required in the fight against malaria, involving community leaders from various sectors.
Prof. Pate emphasized the crucial role of community leaders, including traditional, religious, and private sector leaders, in mobilizing efforts to combat malaria.
He urged Nigerians to transition from idealism to pragmatism, setting ambitious yet realistic goals to drive meaningful progress in malaria elimination.
Meanwhile, Ousmane Kiota, a cell and molecular biologist at the University of Bamako, Mali, has called on the Nigerian government to intensify efforts to eradicate malaria in Sub-Saharan Africa.
He made the plea during a public lecture commemorating the 90th birthday of Prof. Sylvanus Cookey, a former vice-chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt.
Kiota stressed the importance of strong political commitment and collaboration among regional governments to combat the scourge of malaria.
