The Niger State government has earmarked N150 million for malaria control efforts in 2025, including the purchase of treatment commodities, logistics for distributing insecticide-treated nets, and other related initiatives aimed at eradicating malaria.
The Commissioner for Secondary and Tertiary Health, Dr. Bello Tukur, made this known during a press briefing in Minna on Monday to mark the 2025 World Malaria Day.
According to Tukur, the government has distributed 199,250 insecticide-treated nets to pregnant women and children under five, while 2,165,699 individuals with confirmed malaria cases received free treatment with Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies (ACTs) over the past year.
He further disclosed that 1,517,684 children were administered Sulphadoxine-Pyrimethamine plus Amodiaquine (SPAQ) across health facilities during last year’s peak rainy season to prevent malaria infections. Tukur noted that these interventions have contributed to a significant decline in malaria prevalence across the state.
“The goal is to achieve a parasite prevalence of less than 10 per cent and reduce mortality attributable to malaria to less than 50 deaths per 1,000 live births by the end of year 2025.
“This year, the theme for the World Malaria Day commemoration is “Malaria end with us: Reinvest, Reimagine, Re-ignite”, and the slogan is “Stay committed”. The interventions adopted by the government have led to a decrease in out-patient attendance and hospital admission due to malaria”, he said.
The Commissioner, who spoke about the dwindling funds in the health sector due to the pullout of USAID and other donor partners, said that the state is not worried about the dwindling funding as the state is ready to take up the responsibility, especially with the state malaria exit plan which is being implemented.
“The stage is ready to take up the responsibility if the funds eventually get dried up. We are ready to step in. Already, we are doing the 1-1 matching where the government puts in the same amount put into a project by the donor partner.
“We are aware of the dwindling funds but we are not worried about it as we are up and capable”.
