Inaugurating the 16-member Nigeria End Malaria Council (NEMC) with Aliko Dangote as its chairman was President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday in Abuja.
He said that if the Council’s agenda is successfully carried out and savings from the disease’s predicted economic impact are realized, Nigeria will save around N687 billion in 2022 and N2 trillion by 2030.
According to Mr. Buhari, the coordinated plan to combat malaria offered advantages for Nigeria’s socioeconomic status in addition to raising the standard of living, health, and well-being of Nigerians.
He said: ‘‘Our inauguration today will therefore ensure that malaria elimination remains a priority on our agenda, with strong political commitment from leaders at all levels.
‘‘Additionally, the End Malaria Council will provide a platform to advocate for more funding to protect and sustain progress made so far by our country, and put us on a pathway to ending malaria for good,“ he said.
He mentioned the WHO report from 2021 on malaria, expressing concern that the long-standing illness has continued to be a significant public health burden in Nigeria.
According to the data, Nigeria alone is responsible for 32% of all malaria deaths worldwide and 27% of all malaria cases.
Mr Buhari said: ‘‘Malaria infection can cause severe disease and complication in pregnant women and lead to high rate of miscarriage.
‘‘It is also responsible for a considerable proportion of deaths in infants and young children, with children under five years being the most vulnerable group affected.
