Malaria Prevalence Drops by 22% in Nigeria, 16% in Kogi – Expert
The Malaria Consortium has announced a significant reduction in malaria prevalence in Nigeria and Kogi State. According to Kenneth Maduka, Project Manager of the Malaria Consortium in Kogi, malaria prevalence in Nigeria decreased from 23% in 2018 to 22% in 2021, representing a 22% drop.
In Kogi State, malaria prevalence dropped by 16% in 2023 compared to 2021 records. Globally, malaria prevalence decreased by 27% in 2023.
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Maduka attributed the decline to the successful administration of Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) drugs to children aged 3-59 months across the country and globe in 2023. In Kogi, 1.2 million children received over 6.3 million SMC medicines in 2023.
The SMC project, which began in Kogi in 2021, aims to prevent malaria in children during the rainy season. The project has already exceeded its 2024 target of 1,184,652 children in Kogi.
Maduka commended the Kogi Government for its support, which contributed to the project’s success. Orimodu Matthew, Director of Health Educator Advocacy, Kogi SMEP, emphasized the need for media support to increase awareness and promote behavioral change towards SMC implementation.
Dr. Stephen Ake, State Programme Manager of SMEP, noted that 14,255 personnel were engaged in the SMC project across 747 health facilities in 239 wards in Kogi.
