Nigerian govt to roll out malaria vaccines in Kebbi, Bayelsa – NMEP

The federal government says it aims to further reduce the spread of malaria by 10% in 2025, using the seasonal malaria chemo-preventive treatments in endemic regions and other preventive measures already deployed.

The government also announced plans to commence the pilot malaria vaccine rollout in Kebbi and Bayelsa States before the end of the year, after which the process would be stepped down to other parts of the country.

The National Coordinator, National Malaria Elimination Programme, NMEP, Dr Godwin Ntadom, gave the insights during an interactive session with health journalists, where he also noted that malaria prevalence in Nigeria has significantly reduced from 27 percent in 2015 to 22 percent in 2021.

Ntadom said, ”We are working hard to achieve the set target of reducing malaria by 10 per cent prevalence by 2025. We have worked hard to reduce malaria prevalence to a point where it will no longer be a public health challenge. Some countries like Cape Verde have recently achieved this and it is not impossible for Nigeria to achieve.

Noting that former strategies deployed have proven effective in the fight against malaria, Ntadom said the government agency is pursuing newer strategies to further reduce the numbers.

”We have deployed new strategies. First, we provide anti-malaria medicines. We also distribute nets. And most recently, we have deployed seasonal malaria chemo-preventive treatment, especially in the northern part of the country where malaria is very prevalent. And I must tell you, the mortality in that region has reduced as a result of the intervention.

Meanwhile, Ntadom revealed that the federal government was ready to unveil the malaria vaccine which it earlier subscribed to, noting that the pilot exercises to be implemented by the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency would be carried out in Kebbi and Bayelsa States.

He said, ”Nigeria would roll out the use of malaria vaccine this year starting with Kebbi and Bayelsa states before extending it to other parts of the country.

Ntadom, however, warned that for now, Nigerians must ensure they continue with preventive measures to keep malaria at bay.

”Most importantly, we need to focus on the vectors that cause Malaria and that is Mosquitoes. Mosquitoes breed in our neighbourhood. What can we do to ensure that Malaria doesn’t breed. Don’t allow stagnant water and fill up all the marshy areas. Anywhere you know Mosquitoes can breed, prevent it. As long as we can reduce where they breed we wouldn’t have Mosquitoes. And for us also, we should be proactive in sleeping under insecticide-treated nets. As long as we are not bitten by Mosquitoes, it is not likely that we would get Malaria”.