Nigeria Fails at Meeting 2030 Malaria Elimination Target

By Onoja Baba, Abuja, Nigeria

Medical researchers have issued a stark warning that Nigeria is unlikely to meet its 2030 malaria elimination target due to the Federal Government’s failure to maintain the distribution of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) to vulnerable populations.

The researchers voiced their concerns at a regional meeting of the Emerging Genomics Selection and Antimalarial Tolerance in Africa (EGSAT) consortium in Lagos, emphasizing that the discontinuation of ITN distribution—a critical intervention—jeopardizes the nation’s malaria elimination efforts.

One of the researchers, Dr. Oluwagbenga Aina, Deputy Director at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, expressed skepticism about achieving the 2030 target, noting that Nigeria is currently at a control level rather than pre-elimination. He lamented that the progress made in the early 2000s had been undone due to the cessation of key interventions such as ITN distribution and environmental spraying.

“The burden of malaria in Nigeria has increased compared to the early 2000s because critical interventions have not been sustained,” Aina said. “For us to reduce the burden of malaria, we need to reintroduce all the preventive measures that were previously in place, including the distribution of ITNs to pregnant women and children.”

Dr. Aina also highlighted the importance of community engagement in malaria prevention, such as educating the public on eliminating stagnant water to reduce mosquito breeding sites. He noted that the once free distribution of ACT in public hospitals has also diminished, making it harder for people to access essential treatment and diagnostic tools.

Also, Professor Alfred Ngwa, the lead principal investigator for EGSAT, emphasized the need for a coordinated effort in malaria control, including increased funding, surveillance, and monitoring to combat drug-resistant parasites. He stressed that malaria control efforts must focus not only on treatment but also on preventive strategies like the use of ITNs and indoor residual spraying.

“Mosquito control and prevention are critical to reducing malaria transmission,” Professor Ngwa stated. “We need a concerted effort across countries, sustained funding, and comprehensive public health strategies to tackle drug resistance and improve treatment efficacy.”

Dr. Ajibayi Olusola, a molecular biologist and immunogenomics expert at NIMR, noted that malaria transmission in Nigeria is persistent and year-round, especially in the southwestern region. He stressed the importance of addressing continuous transmission through effective control measures.

Olusola explained that the EGSAT project involves testing the efficacy of new antimalarial drugs, aiming to find the most effective treatments for Nigeria. He expressed hope that the project’s findings would significantly contribute to reducing malaria and improving treatment strategies in the country.

Despite past successes with interventions like Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy (ACT) and the widespread distribution of ITNs in the mid-2000s, the lack of sustained support has led to a resurgence of malaria cases.

Nigeria, which bears the highest malaria burden globally, accounts for nearly 27% of global cases with an estimated 68 million cases and 194,000 deaths annually, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).