The Enugu State Commissioner for Health, Emmanuel Obi has appealed to government at all levels, non-government organisations and donor agencies to increase funding budget for the control of malaria in Nigeria.
The commissioner said that there would be serious consequences and more cases of deaths caused by malaria if attention was not urgently paid to the appeal.
“Malaria parasites are gradually developing resistance to Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) which have been confirmed in some East African countries.
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“Mosquitoes are becoming resistant to insecticides in the state, reducing the impact of the primary vector control interventions,” he said.
The Commissioner also said that the state was currently aligned with the World Health Organisation’s(WHO’s) strategy of responding to anti-malarial drug resistance in Africa.
He said that this called for innovative approach to extend the lifespan of ACT treatment regimens, using multiple first-line therapy (MFT).
According to him, Enugu made provisions for MFT, which entails using two or more effective ACTs to treat uncomplicated malaria, either concurrently or in rotation.
“Insecticide-resistant monitoring in the state showed that mosquitoes in the state have become resistant to the pyrethroid insecticides (the most widely used insecticides for bed nets, for treating ITNs).
“Malaria vaccines are also being rolled out in childhood immunisation programme in two states in Nigeria and additional states are expected to introduce and scale up malaria vaccines throughout 2025,” he said.
Obi said that the state was committed to the National Malaria Strategy, aimed at achieving pre-elimination status by 2030, and that this entails having less than five malaria cases per 100 persons and reducing malaria-related deaths to zero.
“Enugu State Government, under Governor Peter Mbah, remains committed in revamping the health sector through infrastructural development and support for health services.
“The state has intentionally made malaria control and elimination a health priority by improving access to free malaria test and treatment, through the support of the Excellence Community Education Welfare Scheme (ECEWS).
“Gaps in malaria prevention and care are currently being bridged through equity-focused action, by providing equitable access to rapid diagnostic testing, Multiple First Line ACTs for prevention and treatment,” he said.
Uchechukwu Okenwa, director, Public Health and Disease Control in Enugu, in his speech, described malaria as public health threat, the surge of which was high in the region due to the climate and the environment.
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“Malaria is real and it kills. Keeping our environment clean will reduce its breed,” he said.
Ndidiamaka Nwosu, South-East Zonal Vaccine Management Consultant, UNICEF, assured UNICEF’s commitment to collaborating with the state to eliminate malaria.
Ayodele Augbelayet, project director, ECEWS, Enugu, emphasized the need to fight against malaria, through reimagined actions, provision of adequate fund, interventions and approaches.
“We are excited to partner Enugu government and very soon, we will begin distribution of commodities to approved facilities in the state,” Ayodele said.
