The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) says it has contributed $768 million to Nigeria’s fight against malaria from 2011 to date.

This is contained in a statement by USAID’s mission director in Nigeria, Anne Patterson, on Monday.

Ms Patterson stated that the funding was made through the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) to enable robust and effective malaria services even as COVID-19 caused enormous strain on the health system.

She disclosed that 58 million bed nets, 130 million fast-acting medicines, and 82 million malaria test kits had been delivered to clinics and communities since 2011 through the PMI funding and programmes.

According to her, 24 million preventive treatment doses were also delivered to pregnant women and 13 million doses to children during the rainy season.

“As stated by PMI’s Annual Report, the U.S. has partnered with Nigeria to fight malaria since 2011, contributing $768 million to date and $74 million in FY 2021. In the past year, more than 3,666 health workers received training that amplified their ability to detect and treat malaria while strengthening the health system overall and providing key skills to fight COVID-19 and future pandemics,” she explained in the statement.

According to her, what Nigeria is doing to advance more effective malaria prevention, treatment, and control is “so important,” especially the introduction of innovative tools to better use the data and enhance the quality of care via community-based health workers.

“Assisted by PMI investments, Nigeria is progressing its fight against malaria using proven and cost-effective methods that save lives and promise a more healthy and prosperous future for families and communities,” she said.

Also speaking, Julie Wallace, acting U.S. global malaria coordinator, said the American government was partnering Nigeria to reduce the malaria burden and save lives.

“The U.S Army Medical Research Directorate-Africa/Nigeria (USAMRD-A/N), also with support from the PMI, has been able to increase and strengthen the capacities of medical laboratory scientists in malaria microscopy, rapid testing, quality assurance, and laboratory supervision,” added Ms Wallace.

She further stated, “The USAMRD-A/N is also joining the State Ministries of Health in Akwa-Ibom and Benue, the National Malaria Elimination Programme, and the Nigerian Ministry of Defense in launching the National Malaria Slide Bank (NMSB) Project.”

(NAN)