Senate Establishes National Agency for Malaria Elimination
Senate passed bill establishing National Agency for Malaria Elimination, shifting Nigeria's malaria response from treatment-focused to prevention and eradication strategies. Sponsored by Senator Ned Nwoko (Delta North) and considered by Senate Committee on Health chaired by Senator Ipalibo Harry Banigo (Rivers West).
The agency will coordinate national programs, establish zonal and state offices, and implement strategies including waste management, environmental fumigation, and vaccine research. Senate President Godswill Akpabio called it a "landmark step," while Nwoko believes it could position Nigeria as Africa's first malaria-free country.
Malaria remains a major challenge, with Africa accounting for 95% of global cases and deaths, and children under five comprising three-quarters of fatalities. Last month, WHO approved Artemether-lumefantrine, the first antimalarial specifically designed for newborns and infants, ending the practice of using formulations intended for older children.
With 282 million cases and 610,000 deaths globally in 2024, WHO says ending malaria in our lifetime is possible with sustained commitment. Will this legislation finally turn the tide against a disease that has plagued Nigeria for decades?