FG Says Malaria Prevalence Drops to 15%, Moves to Scale Up Perennial Malaria Chemoprevention
The Federal Government has announced plans to expand the use of Perennial Malaria Chemoprevention (PMC) across Nigeria as part of efforts to eliminate malaria, following a significant decline in the country’s malaria prevalence from 42 per cent in 2010 to 15 per cent in 2025.
The Honourable Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, disclosed this while delivering the keynote address at the Perennial Malaria Chemoprevention (PMC) Dissemination Meeting held on Wednesday in Abuja.
Dr. Salako described the meeting as a major milestone in Nigeria’s drive to adopt innovative, evidence-based and data-driven strategies for malaria elimination. He said the implementation research on PMC had provided the critical evidence required to guide national policy on the intervention.
He explained that the research began in 2023 after PMC was incorporated into the National Malaria Strategic Plan (2021–2025). Through the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare piloted the intervention—previously known as Intermittent Preventive Treatment in Infants—in states not covered by the Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) programme.
According to the Minister, the initiative was designed to generate evidence on protecting children under the age of two in areas with year-round malaria transmission.
He noted that the intervention aligns with the World Health Organization’s recommendation that malaria-endemic countries complement existing control measures such as vector control, prompt diagnosis and treatment, disease surveillance and preventive interventions.
Dr. Salako reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to implementing the National Malaria Strategic Plan (2026–2030), strengthening the healthcare system, integrating malaria services and optimising available resources to improve health outcomes nationwide.
He also reiterated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to improving public health under the Renewed Hope Agenda, describing malaria elimination as a key national priority.
Highlighting Nigeria’s progress, the Minister said findings from the 2025 Nigeria Malaria Indicator Survey showed that malaria prevalence had dropped significantly to 15 per cent, reflecting the impact of sustained government interventions and strong partnerships.
Despite the progress, he acknowledged that Nigeria still accounts for 24.3 per cent of global malaria cases and 30.3 per cent of malaria-related deaths, stressing the need to intensify efforts to eliminate the disease.
Dr. Salako said the evidence generated through the PMC implementation research would support informed policy decisions on adopting the intervention as a targeted strategy, particularly in southern states where malaria transmission occurs throughout the year.
He added that expanding PMC would promote equity in malaria prevention by extending effective chemoprevention to children in areas that do not benefit from Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention, a programme that has significantly reduced under-five mortality in northern Nigeria.
The Minister directed the Department of Public Health and the National Malaria Elimination Programme to begin the necessary policy processes for the wider introduction of Perennial Malaria Chemoprevention across the country. He also called for further assessment of the intervention’s cost-effectiveness to ensure sustainable implementation.
Commending the research teams, development partners, the Gates Foundation, Malaria Consortium, relevant Federal Government agencies, state governments and frontline health workers, Dr. Salako described the study’s findings as promising and capable of shaping the next phase of Nigeria’s malaria elimination agenda.
He urged all stakeholders to translate the research findings into concrete actions that would accelerate the country’s journey towards a malaria-free Nigeria.
