N11.8m test kits, N13.4m mosquito nets delivered to Nigerians in 2023

The United States Agency for International Development through the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative funding and programmes delivered 13.4m bed nets, six million fast-acting medicines, and 11.8m Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Tests to clinics and communities in Nigeria in 2023.

This was disclosed in a statement made available to our correspondent on Thursday by the U. S Embassy as the speech of the Deputy Mission Director, Sara Werth to commemorate World Malaria Day.

WMD is commemorated every year on April 25th to recognise global efforts to control malaria. This year’s celebration was themed ‘Accelerating the fight against malaria for a more equitable world.’

Malaria—a life-threatening disease caused by parasites transmitted to humans through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes—occurs regularly and is widespread across Nigeria.

The World Health Organisation estimates that Nigeria had nearly 67 million cases in 2022 accounting for 27 percent of the global malaria burden.  Also in 2022, Nigeria accounted for 31 per cent of global deaths and 38 per cent of global deaths in children under the age of five.

According Online reports that the Federal Government will hold a high-level meeting with stakeholders tomorrow, Friday, May 3rd, 2024, to discuss the implementation of the Rethink Malaria Initiative.

The initiative, he noted, will help redefine strategies in the fight against malaria in the country.

Meanwhile, USAID said, “Worldwide, the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative has helped save over 10.6 million lives and prevented 1.7 billion malaria infections since 2000. PMI has partnered with Nigeria to fight malaria since 2011, contributing $914m to date and $73m in 2023.

“USAID, through PMI funding and programmes, delivered 13.4m bed nets, six million fast-acting medicines, and 11.8m Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Tests to clinics and communities in Nigeria over the past year.  In 2023, more than 7,200 health workers were trained to strengthen their skills in malaria detection, treatment, and how to provide lifesaving care for their communities.”

Werth lauded the Federal Ministry of Health for collaborating with the United States government and working to foster robust and effective malaria services in the future.

“As we reflect on the challenges and triumphs in our collective battle against malaria, let us reaffirm our commitment to a future where no family in Nigeria fears the threat of this disease,” remarked Werth.

She continued, “I urge the government of Nigeria to invest in making malaria programming more efficient and effective using data and other evidence to inform malaria implementation and drive faster results.”