The Federal Government has announced plans to expand the implementation of Perennial Malaria Chemoprevention (PMC) across the country following a significant decline in malaria prevalence from 42 per cent in 2010 to 15 per cent in 2025.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, disclosed this while delivering the keynote address at the Perennial Malaria Chemoprevention (PMC) Dissemination Meeting in Abuja.
According to the minister, findings from the implementation research will provide the evidence needed to guide the adoption of the intervention for children under two years living in areas with year-round malaria transmission.
“The implementation research provides critical evidence to guide national policy on the adoption of Perennial Malaria Chemoprevention (PMC),” the minister said.
Salako recalled that the research began in 2023 after PMC was incorporated into the National Malaria Strategic Plan (2021–2025). He explained that the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, through the National Malaria Elimination Programme, piloted the initiative in states not covered by the Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention programme.
“This initiative sought to generate evidence to inform policy adoption for an intervention that would help protect children under 24 months in regions with perennial malaria transmission,” Salako said.
He noted that the 2025 Nigeria Malaria Indicator Survey showed malaria prevalence had dropped to 15 per cent, down from 42 per cent recorded in 2010.
Despite the progress, the minister said Nigeria still accounts for 24.3 per cent of global malaria cases and 30.3 per cent of malaria-related deaths, stressing the need for intensified efforts to eliminate the disease.
He explained that the findings from the research would support informed decisions on adopting PMC as part of a targeted sub-national strategy, particularly in southern states where malaria transmission occurs throughout the year.
Salako also directed the Department of Public Health and the National Malaria Elimination Programme to begin the policy process for the nationwide expansion of PMC while assessing its cost-effectiveness to ensure sustainable implementation.
He reaffirmed the commitment of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to strengthening the country’s public health system under the Renewed Hope Agenda, describing malaria elimination as a national priority.
The minister also commended the Gates Foundation, Malaria Consortium, development partners, federal and state government agencies, research teams and frontline health workers for supporting the implementation of the research, urging stakeholders to translate its findings into concrete actions towards achieving a malaria-free Nigeria.
