FG Plans Nationwide Rollout of New Malaria Prevention Strategy as Prevalence Drops to 15%
Federal Government to Expand Perennial Malaria Chemoprevention in Nigeria
The Federal Government has announced plans to expand the rollout of Perennial Malaria Chemoprevention (PMC) across Nigeria. This initiative follows a notable decline in malaria prevalence, which has dropped from 42 percent in 2010 to 15 percent in 2025.
Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, made the announcement during the keynote address at the Perennial Malaria Chemoprevention Dissemination Meeting held in Abuja on Wednesday. The event was noted in a statement released by Assistant Director of Information and Public Relations, Ado Bako.
Salako characterized the meeting as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to eliminate malaria. He emphasized that implementation research conducted in the country has provided essential data to guide national policy regarding the adoption of PMC for children under two years in areas with continuous malaria transmission.
“The implementation research provides critical evidence to guide national policy on the adoption of Perennial Malaria Chemoprevention,” Salako said.
The minister reminded attendees that the study began in 2023 after PMC was incorporated into the National Malaria Strategic Plan (2021–2025). The initiative was piloted in states that do not qualify for Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention, with the goal of generating data to support the adoption of a protective intervention for children under 24 months in regions with persistent malaria transmission.
Salako reported that findings from the 2025 Nigeria Malaria Indicator Survey indicated a significant reduction in malaria prevalence. However, he pointed out that Nigeria still accounts for 24.3 percent of global malaria cases and 30.3 percent of malaria-related deaths, underscoring the need for intensified efforts in disease elimination.
The minister stated that the evidence from the implementation research would assist in making informed policy decisions about the intervention as part of a targeted strategy, particularly in southern states where malaria transmission continues year-round.
Salako instructed the Department of Public Health and the National Malaria Elimination Programme to initiate the necessary policy processes for the broader introduction of PMC throughout the country. He also called for further evaluations of the intervention’s cost-effectiveness to ensure its sustainable implementation.
In his remarks, Salako reaffirmed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration’s commitment to strengthening public health systems under the Renewed Hope Agenda, describing malaria elimination as a national priority. He commended the contributions of the Gates Foundation, Malaria Consortium, development partners, state government agencies, research teams, and frontline health workers for their roles in the successful implementation of the research. Salako urged stakeholders to convert research findings into actionable strategies that will accelerate progress toward a malaria-free Nigeria.
