The Honourable Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to malaria elimination, emphasizing that it remains a priority in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration due to its socio-economic impact.
Dr. Salako made this assertion during a courtesy visit from a delegation of the Malaria Consortium, led by Dr. Nnenna Ogbulafor, National Coordinator of the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP).
According to a press statement signed by Alaba Balogun, Deputy Director of Information and Public Relations on Sunday, the Minister highlighted the government’s progress in tackling malaria through its Sector Wide Approach (SWAp) initiative.
This strategy fosters collaboration between the Federal Government and sub-national governments, enabling better tracking of annual operations and implementation plans at the state level under a unified healthcare policy.
Dr. Salako also underscored the role of digital health initiatives in streamlining malaria interventions, describing the initiative as crucial for creating a centralized health data repository.
“We have the Digital in Health initiative—a nationwide effort to digitalize healthcare at all levels: primary, secondary, and tertiary,” he noted.
Commending the Malaria Consortium for its independent assessments of government interventions, the Minister pointed to the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) as a key driver in strengthening primary healthcare, including malaria management.
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“The BHCPF covers malaria, and under this administration, its management has been reorganized to ensure more regular fund disbursement,” he stated.
“I appreciate your feedback from field assessments, and I assure you that Nigeria will continue to value and support the Malaria Consortium in delivering on its mandate.”
Recognizing the Malaria Consortium as a critical global partner, Dr. Salako reiterated the Ministry’s appreciation for its contributions to malaria eradication in Nigeria.
During the meeting, Dr. Kolawole Maxwell, Director of Programmes at Malaria Consortium, briefed the Minister on the organization’s research and assessment visits to northern and southern Nigeria. He emphasized the importance of collaboration with stakeholders, particularly in Kano and Osun States, to enhance malaria case management.
Dr. Maxwell highlighted ongoing efforts to identify incentives and barriers affecting the use of mosquito nets.
“In the first phase, we are working with stakeholders to understand the factors influencing net usage. The second phase involves leveraging these findings to develop tailored solutions,” he explained.
The meeting reinforced the strong partnership between the Federal Government and the Malaria Consortium in the shared goal of eliminating malaria in Nigeria.
