The federal government has enlisted the support of some of the country’s most prominent business leaders. Over the weekend, Africa’s richest person, Aliko Dangote, renowned businessman Femi Otedola, and esteemed banker Tony Elumelu were chosen to spearhead new efforts aimed at eliminating the scourge of malaria in Nigeria.
During the inauguration ceremony of the Nigeria End Malaria Council (NEMC) in Abuja, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Tunji Alausa, highlighted the gravity of the malaria crisis in the country. He revealed that Nigeria currently contributes more than a quarter of the global malaria cases and accounts for nearly a third of the over 600,000 malaria-related deaths worldwide, with the majority of victims being children and pregnant women.
Describing the situation as “sad,” Dr. Alausa lamented that malaria is responsible for 25% to 30% of childhood mortality in Nigeria and contributes to 60% of hospital visits. He further emphasized that malaria significantly disrupts daily life, causing absenteeism in schools, markets, and workplaces, while also placing a heavy financial burden on households due to out-of-pocket expenses for treatment.
The newly formed council, which includes Dangote, Otedola, and Elumelu, along with other influential members such as John Cardinal Onaiyekan, will collaborate closely with key stakeholders, including the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), National Assembly joint Health Committees, and women’s organizations, to drive the initiative forward.
“It gives me great pleasure to be present at this auspicious meeting, whose major objective is to contribute to the reduction of the malaria burden and, possibly, the elimination of malaria in Nigeria. This will ultimately lead to an improvement in the quality of life for all Nigerians,” Dr. Alausa stated.
He further underscored the scale of the challenge, noting that with a population exceeding 200 million, the entire country is at risk of malaria. This widespread vulnerability places an enormous strain on the government and underscores the urgency of effective interventions.
Despite efforts to curb malaria through the provision of antimalarial medicines, protective interventions like chemo-preventive treatments, and the distribution of treated mosquito nets and insecticides for indoor and outdoor spraying, these measures have remained insufficient to meet the needs of the population.
“While malaria cases and deaths are shrinking in other countries, Nigeria has continuously recorded higher numbers of cases. The bulk of the support for these interventions has been donor-driven, hence inadequate and not sustainable,” Dr. Alausa remarked, highlighting the need for a more self-reliant and sustainable approach.
He pointed to the broader African context, where the African Heads of State launched the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA) during the 2009 African Union Summit. The Malaria Scorecard, developed in 2011, was introduced to monitor each country’s performance and serve as an advocacy tool for heads of government.
The minister also reflected on the history of the council, which was established in 2017 and officially inaugurated by former President Muhammadu Buhari on August 16, 2022. However, he acknowledged that the council’s inaugural meeting had been long overdue.
Looking ahead, the involvement of business magnates like Dangote, Otedola, and Elumelu in the fight against malaria is expected to bring much-needed resources, influence, and strategic direction to the national effort. Their leadership in this cause signals a significant step towards reducing the malaria burden in Nigeria, with the ultimate goal of eradicating the disease entirely. The collaboration between government, private sector leaders, and civil society is crucial in this endeavor, as Nigeria strives to turn the tide against one of its most persistent public health challenges.
As the newly inaugurated Nigeria End Malaria Council begins its work, the focus will be on mobilizing resources, raising awareness, and implementing effective strategies to ensure that every Nigerian has access to life-saving malaria prevention and treatment measures.
