Nigeria has launched a bold new initiative known as the Big Push to End Malaria, aimed at accelerating efforts to eliminate the disease that continues to pose the country’s deadliest public health challenge. Declaring the campaign open in Abuja, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, stressed that Nigeria must take ownership of the fight, localise solutions, and strengthen domestic health financing, while also appreciating the support of international partners.
Nigeria currently accounts for 27% of global malaria cases and 31% of deaths. Prof. Pate warned that the fight can no longer be outsourced, urging African nations to produce their own diagnostics, medicines, and mosquito nets, while embracing innovation, integration, and accountability. Minister of State for Health, Dr. Adekunle Iziaq Salako, added that although progress has been made, the current pace is not enough to achieve the target of elimination by 2030 without a concerted continental push.
The two-day conference, hosted by the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) with support from RBM, ALMA, WHO, and the UK’s FCDO, also secured backing from the National Assembly. Hon. Amobi Godwin Ogah, Chairman of the House Committee on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, pledged parliamentary support, revealing plans to establish a National Agency for the Control of AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. International partners echoed that Nigeria’s success will be central to ending malaria globally.