Malaria: Cases drop to 27 % in Nigeria – Minister

The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, says malaria cases dropped from 42 per cent to 27 per cent in the country.

Adewole disclosed this on Thursday in Ilorin at the launching of the distribution of 1.7 million Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs) in Kwara.

He said that the 2015 Malaria Indicator Survey (MIS) confirmed the situation.

The minister was represented at by Mr Ebuka Ekugbe, Head of Procurement and Supply Chain Management for National Malaria Elimination.

He, however, pointed out that despite the drop in cases it still remains a major public health problem for Nigeria.

Adewole said the socio-economic effect remains of the disease was a major concern to Federal Government, adding that the health sector is currently undergoing restructuring for effective service delivery nationwide.

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He explained that the federal government has adopted the use of insecticidal nets replacement as one of the key strategies of the integrated package to prevent malaria in Nigeria.

Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara noted that the exercise was a collaborative effort of the federal and state governments to roll back malaria.

The governor, who was represented by Dr Sulaiman Alege, the state Commissioner for Health, pledged to ensure accelerated malaria elimination in line with federal government’s agenda.

The commissioner added that the distribution of the nets would commence on Friday and end on Tuesday, urging residents to collect net cards which would serve as tickets to get the insecticidal nets at specified distribution points across the state.

Earlier, Mr Gbenga Jokodola, the Country Representative of Catholic Relief Service, said the organisation has distributed 16.5 million LLINs so far in the country.