About N1.89 trillion will be needed if Nigeria is to achieve malaria prevalence rate of less than 10 per cent and reduce mortality rate to less than 50 deaths per 1,000 live births by 2025, an official has said.
The Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, made this known on Friday while speaking during a press conference ahead of the 2021 World Malaria Day.
Mr Ehanire said the country has developed a five-year new generation malaria strategic plan to sustain gains already made and chart a pathway towards achieving a malaria-free Nigeria.
“The implementation of this plan will cost N1.89 trillion Naira and 352 billion is required for the year 2021 programme implementation,” he said.
He explained that about 63.1 per cent of the total amount will be used to support prevention, diagnosis and treatment while 35.9 per cent will be used for vector management.
However, considering the prevailing economic circumstance, the government may not have the required amount, Mr Ehanire said.
He urged the private sector and various corporate organisations to support the federal government in the fight against malaria.
World Malaria Day is marked on April 25 every year to highlight global efforts to control malaria and celebrate the gains that have been made.
The theme for this year’s celebration is “Zero Malaria – Draw the Line Against Malaria” because every malaria case is preventable, and every malaria death is unacceptable, the World Health Organisation(WHO) said.
