Lawmakers have expressed deep concern over the alarming rate of malaria infections in Nigeria and have emphasized the urgent need to address the issue.

Representative Amobi Godwin Ogar, Chairman of the House Committee on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Control (ATM), announced these initiatives during the committee’s inaugural meeting in Abuja.

Ogar highlighted that a significant number of Nigerians are affected by malaria, yet access to affordable drugs is limited, and the available options are prohibitively expensive.

The committee’s focus will also extend to tackling the proliferation of counterfeit and substandard malaria drugs in the country, identifying their sources, and imposing penalties.

Additionally, the committee will thoroughly examine the operations and processes of the Global Fund related to their intervention strategies in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

“I am also concerned by the havoc Malaria is wrecking on our populace and we are going to push and advocate that Malaria drugs be subsidized if not made free at all Government Health Centers. It is no rocket science that most Nigerians are affected by Malaria yet access to drugs is not readily available, while the ones available are very exorbitant.

“My vision is to see a Nigeria where malaria drugs will be given to our people free or subsidized.

“As you are all aware the Committee on ATM is saddled with the responsibility to formulate legislative measures for the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, coordinating and harmonizing activities of Government and -Governmental Agencies on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria generally to ensure the effectiveness of the efforts at HIV/AIDS and Malaria control, remedy and cure for Aids patients, oversight of all agencies under our jurisdiction and annual Budget estimates among other responsibilities under Standing Order 20 Rule 52 of the House of Representatives, 10th edition.

“Following my appointment as the substantive Chairman of the Committee by Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas in the 10th National Assembly, I have done extensive research in the area of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. I have also had interface and interactive meetings with key stakeholders within our purview and I must say to you all, there is work to be done.

“We are going to devise new mechanisms and approaches in our engagements and fight against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria control in our Country to make a difference and avoid the failures of the past” he noted.

Ogar affirmed that the Committee must seek new collaborations and partnerships to enhance and reinvigorate the fight against these diseases.

“We must protect our people since we are their representatives. Therefore, producers and distributors of fake and sub-standard Malaria drugs will have no hiding place under our watch. Our oversight of NACA, the core Agency of the Committee must be strategic and robust to ensure they brace up to their responsibilities. To achieve all our objectives, we are ready to partner and collaborate with relevant MDAs, Donor Agencies and NGOs. I assure you that we are ready to move mountains to ensure we succeed” he maintained.

The initiative was announced during the launch of the first cohort of malaria modelling fellows in Abuja, as stated by Dr. Perpetua Uhomoibhi, the National Coordinator of the National Malaria Elimination Programme.

Dr. Uhomoibhi explained that the malaria modelling programme involves analyzing data in various contexts to make informed decisions regarding malaria programs and elimination efforts.

Although the country’s current malaria prevalence stands at 22 percent, there have been improvements in the population’s care-seeking behavior.

Malaria transmission involves several factors, including epidemiological and entomological aspects, vector behavior, socioeconomic factors, and urbanization.

By utilizing models and analyzing available data, the program aims to identify areas with the highest disease burden and the contributing factors.

This information will enable the development of tailored interventions specific to each context, thereby assisting in the understanding of disease transmission and facilitating targeted interventions.

Dr. Uhomoibhi emphasized the government’s commitment to eradicating malaria by 2025 through the use of data for disease tracking and prevention.

Dr. Chinwe Ochu, the Director of Planning, Research, and Statistics at the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, highlighted that the malaria modelling fellowship will provide training to experts, equipping them with the skills to guide targeted interventions in areas with the greatest need.

The objective is to reduce malaria prevalence in Nigeria to a pre-elimination phase.

Dr. Ismail Raji, one of the fellows participating in the programme, emphasized the significance of accurate data in reducing the malaria burden.

The fellowship, a collaborative effort between Corona Management Systems, the National Malaria Elimination Programme, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, and the World Health Organization, will offer participants a comprehensive curriculum covering essential modelling content, in-depth knowledge of malaria epidemiology and transmission dynamics, and other modules crucial for their careers in malaria modelling.

With the approval of the vaccine produced by the Serum Institute of India, Nigeria joins Ghana as the second nation to do so.

In addition, while the review committee acknowledged that the vaccine is 75% effective at preventing malaria, Prof. Christianah Adeleye, Director General of the Agency during a media briefing, added that the vaccine’s potential benefits outweigh its known and potential risks, supporting the manufacturer’s recommended use.

Adeleye added that Nigeria expects to receive at least 100,000 doses of the vaccine in donations soon before the market authorization will start making other arrangements with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), NAFDAC. With the provisional approval of the R21, Adeleye said that Nigeria is now the second country in the world to approve its use after Ghana.

According to her, the vaccine is recommended for use in children between the ages of 5 and 36 months to prevent the development of clinical malaria.The vaccination should be stored between 2 and 8 °C.

“NAFDAC in exercising its mandate as stipulated by its enabling law, NAFDAC Act CapN1, LFN 2004 is granting registration approval for R21 Malaria Vaccine (Recombinant, Adjuvanted)  manufactured by Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd. (SIIPL).

“The Marketing Authorization Holder is Fidson Healthcare Ltd in line with the Agency’s Drug and Related Products Registration Regulation 2021.

“A provisional approval of the R21 Malaria Vaccine was recommended and this shall be done in line with the the World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) Malaria Vaccine Implementation Guideline.”

Stating that Malaria is one of the most important public health concerns in the world., she noted that the latest WHO World Malaria Report showed that there were 247 million cases of malaria in 2021 compared to 245 million cases in 2020. The estimated number of malaria deaths stood at 619 000 in 2021 compared to 625 000 in 2020.

Continuing, she explained that the brief on the approval of the R21 Malaria vaccine has been communicated to the Minister of Health and National Primary Health Care Development Agency for appropriate actions toward immunization in the respective population.

She further pledged NAFDAC is committed to ensuring that only products that are safe, high quality, and efficacy are made available for Nigerians.

A document released in Washington DC on Wednesday said the money would be spent under the Presidential Malaria Initiative, according to the Nation.

It said the funding will support monitoring insecticide resistance testing in all 11 PMI focus states and five non-PMI focus States.

The beneficiary states include Enugu and Kaduna, Abia, Ekiti, Kogi, Kebbi and Sokoto.

The statement read, “In addition, PMI will continue to support the procurement and distribution of ITNs through mass campaigns, providing technical support to the country’s CY 2024 mass distributions through participation and supporting social and behavior change to improve the use and care of ITNs.

PMI will also maintain the support of streamlined durability monitoring of Interceptor G2 nets (Interceptor G2) in Kebbi State. PMI plans to procure 5.6 million Interceptor G2 for mass campaigns in Oyo State.

The statement added: “PMI Nigeria will continue to support activities to strengthen malaria in pregnancy services and improve uptake of intermittent preventive treatment for pregnant women, including: strengthening national and state level MIP coordination structures in collaboration with the Ministry of Health Reproductive Health Division; supporting the revision of MIP guidelines, standard operating procedures, training manuals, and job aids to address barriers to uptake of IPTp; and expanding the introduction of the revised guidelines to medical training institutions and other relevant professional associations. PMI will continue to support facility antenatal care provider training and mentoring on MIP, fund facility ANC HWs supervision and clinical meetings in targeted health facilities to strengthen MIP implementation, and intensify advocacy to federal and state health authorities to procure sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine for IPTp in the ANC facilities through the various existing platforms (Drug Management Agencies (DMAs)/Drug Revolving Fund, Basic Healthcare Provision Fund. PMI will also support the uptake of IPTp through the ANC platform, leveraging maternal child health funds that support ANC promotion efforts (mainly social behavior change) through Integrated Health Program in the three states that utilise an integrated health mechanism.”

Also, PMI Nigeria will support seasonal malaria chemoprevention in Benue and Zamfara, covering more than 2.2 million children aged 3-59 months.

“PMI Nigeria will continue to support key case management activities through technical assistance at the federal and state levels, commodity procurement, and facility and community level activities. Activities will include providing updated guidelines for malaria case management, conducting therapeutic efficacy studies, and continuing efforts to establish a national malaria slide bank. With FY 2023 funds, PMI Nigeria will procure 17 million rapid diagnostic test (RDTs), 15 million artemisinin-based combination therapies, 350,000 vials of injectable artesunate (IAS), and assorted microscopy supplies, to be distributed to over 5,000 health facilities in the 11 PMI focus states. At the facility level, PMI will continue to support the training of health workers in primary health care and secondary health facilities and conduct clinical meetings to increase the quality of malaria case management. At the community level, PMI will expand integrated community case management to four states through the Community Health Influencers, Promoters and Services Program, including the payment of CHIPS agents,” said the statement.

This certification will enable Kenyan manufacturer Universal Corporation Ltd (UCL) to support regional efforts to combat malaria through local production of high-quality sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP).

The pre-qualification was achieved with funding from global health agency Unitaid and support from MMV.

Pre-qualification is a service provided by WHO to assess the quality, safety and efficacy of medicinal products. The quality assurance of UCL’s SP product Wiwal® opens a route for procurement by global scale-up partners that will improve access and help strengthen Africa’s ability to combat endemic diseases.

Dr Philippe Duneton, Executive Director of Unitaid, stated,  “Unitaid welcomes the certification of UCL to produce this quality-assured antimalarial medicine in Africa, where about 95 percent of all illness and death from malaria occurs. Reinforcing local production of medicines where they are needed most is critical to building stronger and more resilient health responses.”

Young children and pregnant women are among the most vulnerable to the burden of malaria, with children under five accounting for 80 percent of all malaria deaths in Africa.

Clinically, SP is a generally well-tolerated, effective, and affordable medicine used to prevent malaria, yet adequate delivery and scale-up of these interventions are hampered in part by inadequate and unstable supply and, until now, have completely relied on imported or poor-quality drugs.

According to Perviz Dhanani, Founder/MD of UCL,  “UCL is committed to supplying the African continent with quality medicines that are most needed by the people who live here. We are not only the first pharmaceutical company to receive pre-qualification of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine in Africa, but one of only five manufacturers in Africa to have received this quality certification for any product. We’re filling a much-needed gap.”

The lack of pre-qualified manufacturers in Africa raises concerns about the quality of medicines and supply insecurities that compromise the treatment of chronic and infectious diseases – risks that were clearly revealed when COVID-19 disrupted global supply chains and left Africa with limited access to vital products.

Increased supply of SP is crucial to the long-term success of Unitaid’s malaria chemoprevention strategy, which includes nearly US$ 160 million invested to date to optimize and scale up delivery of SP through seasonal delivery and intermittent preventive treatment in pregnant women and infants. With Unitaid funding, MMV is working to strengthen global supply chains and support appropriate use of quality medicines critical to the malaria response.

The news of Universal Corporation Ltd receiving a WHO Prequalification for sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine is incredible news,” said Ms Joy Phumaphi, Executive Secretary of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance and MMV Board member.

“Ensuring the availability and accessibility of quality treatment for underserved communities, particularly women, newborns, and children who are disproportionately at high risk of death from malaria is a critical component to the full realization of the right to health.”

Minister of Environment, Barrister Hasan Abdullahi, on Monday reiterated the determination of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to further reduce the malaria scourge to the barest minimum through deliberate targeted interventions in policy implementation.

He spoke at a briefing as part of activities in commemoration of this year’s edition of the WHO’s World Malaria Day, in Abuja.

Abdullahi said, “According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Nigeria has the world’s highest malaria burden with an annual reported cases 51 million and 207, 000 deaths representing nearly 30 percent of the total malaria in Africa.

“It is also estimated that nearly 173 million Nigerians are at risk of being infected.

“This alarming situation brings along with it the economic consequences-absence from work by infected adults, absence from school on the part of infected school children are basic and prominent aspects of concern owing to the high rate of man-hour loss arising from this.

“Similarly, it is estimated that Nigerians lose money running into hundreds of Billion Naira wherein if every infected person treats just a bout of Malaria infection with an average of two thousand Naira twice every year.”

The minister further said, “Several efforts are being made internationally, nationally and locally to combat the Malaria scourge. Only recently, the President and Commander-inChief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari inaugurated the Nigeria End Malaria Council (NEMC) where he mandated it to ensure successful implementation of the Council’s programme that should translate into N2 trillion savings from the estimated economic burden of the disease by 2030.

“The Federal Ministry of Environment is solidly behind the President in achieving the onerous target set for the NEMC which is quite achievable with the right implementation of strategies utilizing collaboration and partnership.”

According to him, case management of Malaria has proven to be less effective in the control of the hyper endemic disease.

He equally noted that although control of the adult mosquito bite through the use of Insecticide-Treated (Mosquito) Nets is posting some gains, attaining the desired impact is not near and is unfortunately not too reliable, a strategy.

Abdullahi further said, “It remains critical that hierarchically, effective Mosquito control takes the form of exclusion — removal of suitable vector habitat through sound hygiene and sanitation which stops breeding by preventing egg laying; life cycle control — larviciding, to reduce/eliminate egg hatching; and oiling & aduiticiding which is used for controlling pupacy and adulthood respectively.”

The Council is expected to drive the Federal Government’s commitment to end malaria in the country.

In attendance at the launch is the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, and Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire among other ministers and top government officials.

Speaking to a 16-member council headed by the President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote who accepted to be an ambassador for malaria, the President maintained the quest to eliminate mallards remains a priority for his administration.

“Malaria as we all know is an age-long disease and remains a major public health challenge in Nigeria.  The World Health Organisation report of 2021 shows that Nigeria alone accounts for 27% of all cases of malaria and 32% of deaths globally,” Buhari stated.

“Malaria infection can cause severe disease and complication in pregnant women and lead to high rates of miscarriage. It is also responsible for a considerable proportion of deaths in infants and young children, with children under 5 years being the most vulnerable group affected. These are reasons why we must not relent in fighting malaria.”

According to Buhari, beyond improving the quality of life, health and well-being of Nigerians, the strategy adopted had public health and socio-economic benefits for the country.

The President urged the council to deploy best practices in its dealings in order to reduce significantly Nigeria’s malaria burden which according to the WHO now accounts for 27percent of all cases and 32 percent of deaths globally.

He added, “Our inauguration today will therefore ensure that malaria elimination remains a priority on our agenda, with strong political commitment from leaders at all levels. Additionally, the End Malaria Council will provide a platform to advocate for more funding to protect and sustain progress made so far by our country, and put us on a pathway to ending malaria for good.

“The successful implementation of the Council’s agenda will result in improvement in the quality of life, health and well-being of Nigerians, by providing impetus for malaria elimination and by saving about N687 billion nationally which is the estimated economic burden of malaria for 2022. The savings could increase to N2 trillion in 2030. A concerted strategy to tackle malaria, therefore, has both public health as well as socio-economic benefits for Nigeria.”

The organisation disclosed on Wednesday that it had procured 4.4 million doses of anti-malaria vaccine to protect 977,843 Adamawa children under five years old against malaria parasites.

The Malaria Program Officer of WHO, Dr IniAbasi Nglass who disclosed the plan during a workshop in Yola on Wednesday, said more than 9,000 volunteers had been trained to implement the Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) program across the 21 local government areas of Adamawa State.

Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention is described as an effective intervention to prevent malaria in those most vulnerable to the disease’s effects, involving administering monthly doses of antimalarial drugs to children aged 3-59 months during peak malaria transmission season.

The State Programme Manager, Adamawa State Malaria Elimination Programme, Benjamin Gubi, said the trained personnel would be deployed in teams for the house-to-house SMC vaccination campaign.

He explained that it is a four-course campaign by which every child is to be immunised once every month for the next four months: June, July, August and September.

“You may observe that the 4.4 million doses of vaccine will go more than four doses to the targeted 977843 children; this is because of certain expectations, including the likelihood of repeat doses for children who for example vomit a dose administered on them,” he explained.

He added that, in effect, over a million children may eventually be covered in the anti-malaria campaign in Adamawa State.

The ceremony kicked off with a community rally from Modupe Roundabout to the Council Secretariat at Powerline Oke-ira, in the early hours of the day. Subsequent events also climaxed into Malaria awareness and Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets distribution to community members by the sponsors.

The rally was organized to mark this year’s Malaria Day held every 25th of April, which has been set aside as a day to create awareness of the global burden of malaria, and to mobilize support for the Roll Back Malaria strategies.

The Ojodu Chairman, Hon. David Olusegun Odunmbaku who hosted the partners while giving his remarks appreciated the benevolence of TotalEnergies, NNPC, and other partners for selecting the Council as the host for the year’s global event which also coincides with his administration’s focal points; HEYS Agenda (Health, Education, Youth Empowerment & Social Infrastructure)

“We appreciate all the sponsors and partners for their efforts in ensuring a healthy society through their incessant subventions and worthwhile Corporate Social Responsibilities. We are honored to host this year’s World Malaria Day which coincides with our vehement efforts at bringing qualitative and affordable health care to our citizens.

“It is noteworthy to reiterate that since the inception of our administration a few months ago, we have embarked upon people-oriented projects as captured in our HEY Agenda which stands for Health, Education, Youth Empowerment, Social Infrastructure,” Odunmbaku said.

While also delivering goodwill remarks, the General Manager, Corporate Social Responsibility TotalEnergies E&P Nigeria Limited, Mrs Kenechi Esomeju who represented the Managing Director, emphasized the organization’s commitment in ensuring better and livable society through their robust Corporate Social Responsibility, humanitarian and charitable efforts in order to advance an equitable society.

In the same vein, the Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Asiyanbi highlighted the importance of World Malaria Day and preventive measures against malaria such as proper usage of treated Mosquito Nets, and adequate care for susceptible pregnant women and infants.

In attendance at the event were the Vice Chairman, Hon Bunmi Oluyadi, Secretary to the Local Government Hon. Olaide Bello, Executive Committee Members, Legislators, Council-Manager Engr. Dele Abayomi, Dr. Jekwu Ozoemene, MD/CEO HIV Trust Fund of Nigeria, Malaria Case Manager Dr. Kehinde Adeniran, State Health Educator Mrs. Ibironke Akintunde, Traditional Leaders, Community Development Committee/Association members (CDC/CDA), Chief Nursing Officers, and community members.

This was contained in a message by WHO’s Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti to commemorate this year’s World Malaria Day tagged ‘Harness innovation to reduce the malaria disease burden and save lives’.

“Malaria remains a significant public health and development challenge,” she declared. “In the last year, about 95 per cent of the estimated 228 million cases occurred in the WHO/AFRO Region, along with 602,020 reported deaths.

“Six of our countries, the worst-impacted by malaria in the region, are reported to have accounted for up to 55 per cent of cases globally, and for 50 per cent of these deaths.”

The commemoration of World Malaria Day is marked annually on 25 April to focus global attention on the disease and its devastating impact on families, communities, and societal development, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Moeti, in her remarks, believes this year’s theme aligns with her call to urgently scale up innovation and the deployment of new tools in the fight against malaria, while advocating for equitable access to malaria prevention and treatment within the context of building health system resilience.

She said the past year has seen significant breakthroughs in malaria prevention and control, in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The WHO official stated that landmark recommendations on the use of the first vaccine against malaria – RTS,S – were released by the late last year, adding that the vaccine would be used to prevent the disease among children aged six months to five years, who live in moderate to high transmission settings.

“While this is a ground-breaking advance in the development of new tools to fight this disease, with the potential to save millions of lives, supplies are currently limited,” she lamented. “As such, it is important to ensure that the doses that are available are utilised for maximum impact while ensuring the continued availability of other preventive measures to those most at risk.

“Despite some slowing of progress to reduce malaria cases and deaths, and the disruptions to health services caused by COVID-19, we are still much further ahead than we were in 2000. We need to reignite that momentum and build on the recent advances.

“The ultimate goal is to reduce the number of people catching and dying from malaria. This requires a focus on research and on leveraging available evidence to ensure that our targeted interventions are an efficient use of resources, which produce measurable results.”