FG Ramps Up Malaria Prevention For Children As Prevalence Falls To 15% –
Federal Government to Launch Nationwide Perennial Malaria Chemoprevention Initiative
ABUJA — The Federal Government announced plans to commence the policy process for the nationwide implementation of Perennial Malaria Chemoprevention (PMC) on Wednesday. This decision follows a substantial decrease in malaria prevalence in Nigeria, which has dropped from 42 percent in 2010 to 15 percent in 2025.
Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, made the announcement during the Perennial Malaria Chemoprevention Dissemination Meeting in the capital.
The initiative aims to protect children under the age of two in regions where malaria transmission occurs year-round, and is designed to complement existing malaria control strategies.
“The implementation research provides critical evidence to guide national policy on the adoption of Perennial Malaria Chemoprevention,” Salako stated. He directed the Department of Public Health and the National Malaria Elimination Programme to initiate the policy process for broader application of this intervention, while also assessing its cost-effectiveness.
Salako highlighted notable progress in malaria control in the country, citing findings from the 2025 Nigeria Malaria Indicator Survey, which indicated a significant reduction in malaria prevalence. Despite this progress, he noted that Nigeria still accounts for 24.3 percent of global malaria cases and 30.3 percent of malaria-related fatalities.
“Today’s deliberations provide an opportunity to advance equity in malaria prevention by extending effective chemoprevention to children in regions not served by Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention,” he added.
The minister urged stakeholders to translate research findings into actionable strategies that will shape the next phase of Nigeria’s malaria elimination efforts.
