In 2023, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) delivered essential resources to aid Nigeria’s fight against malaria. Through the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) funding and programs, Nigeria received 13.4 million bed nets, six million fast-acting medicines, and 11.8 million Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Tests, according to a statement by the U.S. Embassy.
The disclosure came during World Malaria Day (WMD) commemorations on April 25th, under the theme ‘Accelerating the fight against malaria for a more equitable world.’ Malaria, a life-threatening disease transmitted by infected mosquitoes, remains a significant health challenge in Nigeria. The World Health Organization estimates that Nigeria accounted for 27 percent of global malaria cases and 31 percent of global deaths in 2022, with children under five bearing a heavy burden.
To address this crisis, the Federal Government will convene a high-level meeting with stakeholders on May 3rd, 2024, to discuss the implementation of the Rethink Malaria Initiative, aimed at redefining strategies in the fight against malaria.
USAID highlighted its contributions to Nigeria’s malaria control efforts, stating that PMI has partnered with Nigeria since 2011, contributing $914 million to date, including $73 million in 2023 alone. In addition to providing critical resources, PMI trained over 7,200 health workers in malaria detection, treatment, and lifesaving care in 2023.
Sara Werth, Deputy Mission Director at the U.S. Embassy, commended the Federal Ministry of Health for its collaboration and emphasized the importance of data-driven approaches to enhance malaria programming. She urged the Nigerian government to invest in making malaria interventions more efficient and effective, aiming for a future where no family fears the threat of malaria.