The UK has pledged £1 billion to Nigeria’s fight against malaria and other diseases from 2024 to 2026.
Malaria remains a pervasive public health threat in Nigeria, claiming thousands of lives each year and imposing a heavy burden on healthcare systems and economies. Despite concerted efforts to control the disease, factors such as inadequate healthcare infrastructure, limited access to essential resources, and environmental challenges continue to impede progress. In light of these persistent challenges, international support and collaboration are crucial in advancing malaria prevention, treatment, and elimination efforts.
Ebere Anyachukwu, health adviser at the British High Commission, announced this on World Malaria Day in an interview with NAN.
The UK’s pledge of €1 billion to Nigeria’s fight against malaria represents a transformative investment in global health. This generous contribution is poised to catalyze comprehensive interventions aimed at reducing malaria-related morbidity and mortality, strengthening healthcare systems, and bolstering disease surveillance and response capabilities. By focusing on prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and research, the funding has the potential to yield far-reaching impacts and pave the way for sustainable progress in malaria control.
This contribution supplements existing funds from other donors and will primarily support the procurement of insecticides, treated bed nets, malaria diagnostics, and chemoprevention efforts.
“There are some states in Nigeria where malaria is seasonal. Those are states where chemoprevention is used to prevent children from coming down with malaria,“ he said.
“In those states, malaria spreads in a few months within a year, and during that period, there is a high level of malaria transmission in children, resulting in lots of deaths.”
The health adviser said children in such states are usually given malaria drugs, whether or not they have the infection.
He said the UK is a big contributor to the global fund, currently supporting about 13 states in Nigeria.
He listed the states to include Adamawa, Delta, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kwara, Niger, Ogun, Osun, Yobe and Taraba.
“With the global funding support, there has been a significant reduction of malaria-related deaths in children in Nigeria,“ Anyachukwu said.
The fight against malaria is a shared responsibility that transcends borders and sectors. The UK’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s efforts is indicative of the power of international cooperation and partnership in advancing global health goals. By collaborating with government agencies, non-governmental organizations, research institutions, and local communities, the funding initiative can leverage diverse expertise, resources, and networks to maximize impact and reach underserved populations.
At the heart of malaria elimination efforts are the communities and individuals affected by the disease. The UK’s funding initiative recognizes the importance of community engagement, education, and empowerment in driving sustainable behavior change and health-seeking practices. By involving communities as active participants in malaria control activities, the initiative aims to foster ownership, accountability, and resilience at the grassroots level, ultimately leading to more effective and sustainable outcomes.
