Malaria prevalence in Nigeria has significantly declined, with rates dropping from 23% in 2018 to 22% in 2021, according to Mr. Kenneth Maduka, Kogi Project Manager at Malaria Consortium. This announcement was made during a briefing on Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) organized in collaboration with the Kogi Ministry of Health.
Key Statistics and Achievements
- Reduction in Kogi State: In Kogi, malaria prevalence dropped by 16% in 2023 compared to 2021, contributing to a global reduction of 27% in malaria cases.
- Impact of SMC: In 2023 alone, over 1.2 million children in Kogi received more than 6.3 million doses of malaria medication through the Kogi SMC project.
Malaria in Nigeria
Malaria remains a critical public health challenge in Nigeria, which bears the largest malaria burden globally, accounting for about 27% of all malaria cases worldwide. By 2021, the country reported an estimated 68 million malaria infections and 194,000 deaths attributed to the disease.
Ongoing Prevention Efforts
Maduka highlighted that the target for SMC implementation in 2024 is set at 1,184,652 children, which has already been surpassed in the June and July cycles. He emphasized the need to increase these numbers further during the upcoming cycles in August and September, particularly as children aged three to 59 months are at high risk during the rainy season.Dr. Stephen Ake, State Programme Manager of the State Malaria Elimination Programme (SMEP), shared that 14,255 personnel are engaged under the SMC project across 747 health facilities in 239 wards. The state is also expanding malaria prevention efforts to adults through the IMPACT Project (Immunization Plus and Malaria Progress by Accelerating Coverage and Promoting Services), a major initiative funded by the World Bank to strengthen primary healthcare and reduce under-5 mortality rates.
What is Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC)?
SMC involves administering a combination of two antimalarial drugs, sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine and amodiaquine (SPAQ), to children at risk during the rainy season. Launched by the WHO in 2012, this method prevents severe malaria in vulnerable populations. The treatment is given monthly for 3-4 months during the peak malaria season, with studies indicating that SMC can reduce malaria incidence by up to 75% in treated children. Community health workers typically deliver this treatment door-to-door.
Future Goals
In 2024, the Malaria Consortium will administer SMC to 25 million children across seven countries, including Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Chad, Mozambique, South Sudan, Togo, and Uganda. The Kogi SMC project, initiated in 2021, is supported by various partners, including the State Malaria Elimination Programme, Malaria Consortium, and the WHO.
