The Nigerian government has intensified its campaign against malaria by appointing prominent business leaders Aliko Dangote, Femi Otedola, and Tony Elumelu to spearhead the effort.
This initiative, launched in Abuja, aims to address Nigeria’s significant burden of malaria, which accounts for over a quarter of global cases and nearly a third of worldwide malaria deaths, predominantly affecting children and pregnant women.
At the forefront of this renewed drive is the Nigeria End Malaria Council (NEMC), a body tasked with collaborating with various national stakeholders, including the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, the National Assembly Health Committees, and women’s organizations.
The council’s mission is to keep malaria eradication a priority at both national and state levels and to mobilize resources from both public and private sectors to bridge the gaps in the national malaria strategy.
The council, originally established in 2017 and inaugurated by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2022, aims to sustain high-level political commitment and ensure that malaria remains a focal point of national health policy.
As part of the inauguration, Dangote, who has previously served as Nigeria’s Malaria Ambassador and is a member of the Global End Malaria Council, was appointed to lead this effort.
This renewed focus on malaria comes in response to the country’s ongoing struggle with the disease, which continues to strain Nigeria’s healthcare system and the economy.
The government’s existing interventions, including the distribution of antimalarial drugs and treated nets, have been insufficient to curb the disease’s impact, highlighting the need for a more robust and sustainable approach.
The new leadership team is expected to leverage their influence and resources to address these challenges, with the goal of significantly reducing malaria-related morbidity and mortality in Nigeria.
