The Kwara commissioner for health, Amina El-Imam, says the state will soon commence distributing two million long-lasting insecticide-treated mosquito nets to households across all local government areas.

Ms El-Imam stated this at a news conference organised as part of the activities to commemorate World Malaria Day 2026 on Friday in Ilorin.

The theme for the day is “Driven to End Malaria; Now We Can, Now We Must.”

Ms El-Imam explained that the day served as a clarion call for urgent action and the effective use of new tools and innovations to save lives.

She emphasised the need for Nigeria to join the 47 countries and one territory that are certified malaria-free by the World Health Organisation (WHO), including recent additions such as Egypt and Timor-Leste.

According to her, by June, Kwara will commence the continuation of the routine yearly house-to-house distribution of malaria preventive drugs (SPAQ) for children aged three to 59 months during the peak of the rainy season.

“In selected public health facilities, malaria treatment is free. This includes free rapid diagnostic test (RDT) kits for free testing, free treatment with Artemether-Lumefantrine for uncomplicated malaria and free intravenous Artesunate for severe cases,” she said.

The commissioner observed that malaria remains a significant public health threat and a development challenge, adding that in 2024, the global burden rose to an estimated 282 million cases and 610,000 deaths.

“The African region bears 94 per cent of cases and 95 per cent mortality. Nigeria remains at the epicentre of this crisis, accounting for close to a quarter (24.3 per cent) of global malaria cases and over a quarter (30.3 per cent) of global deaths from malaria.

“On average, two out of every visit to the hospital are malaria cases, while three of five hospital admissions are due to malaria cases and are mainly children under five.

“Despite these daunting national figures, we have reason for hope. Globally, interventions since 2000 have averted 2.3 billion cases and 14 million deaths.

“In Nigeria, national malaria prevalence has seen a remarkable decline from 42 per cent in 2010 to 15 per cent in 2025,” she said.

Ms El-Imam said there was progress in malaria control in Kwara, noting that the state had emerged as a technical model for sub-national success.

“The state has procured and distributed sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine for the intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy (IPTp) to over 350 public health facilities across the state,” she said.

In his address, the WHO regional director for Africa, Mohammed Janabi, said the tiny mosquito had continued to cause enormous harm, and every year, malaria kills hundreds of thousands of people, especially young African children.

Mr Janabi, who was represented by Emmanuel Eyitayo, the Kwara WHO representative, added that more than 10 countries have increased domestic financing for malaria programmes since January 2025, in 25 countries.

He added that these countries were rolling out malaria vaccines and helping to protect about 10 million children each year.

“Next-generation mosquito nets designed to overcome insecticide resistance now account for the vast majority of newly distributed nets.

“Digital technologies are improving our ability to predict, detect and respond to outbreaks. Plus, new vector control innovations are expanding our toolbox.

“But progress is not guaranteed. Funding gaps continue to slow the response,” he said.

Earlier in his presentation, the head of malaria case management in the state, Kazeem Oladapo, explained that the state had made significant strides in scaling up the control of the disease interventions.

According to him, this is through the support from global funds and other global partners.

He observed that despite efforts put in controlling the disease, it continues to be a health challenge in the country and that Nigeria accounted for 24 per cent of global malaria cases in the world.

“Malaria accounts for 20 to 30 per cent of hospital admissions, especially for children under five years old,” he lamented.

Mr Oladapo, however, reiterated the resolve of the government and partners in eliminating malaria, saying that the disease was preventable, treatable and can be eliminated. 

(NAN)