The Kogi State Government has announced plans to spend over ₦4 billion on malaria prevention across its healthcare system. Governor Ahmed Ododo made this announcement at the launch of a malaria prevention campaign, emphasizing the need for collective efforts to eradicate the disease.
According to Ismaila Isah, Special Adviser on Media to the Governor, the campaign includes the distribution of free anti-malaria drugs, rapid diagnostic test kits, and over 3 million insecticide-treated nets to healthcare facilities. The governor stressed that these supplies are not for sale and urged stakeholders to ensure they reach the intended communities. The intervention, supported by the Islamic Development Bank, aims to provide over 1 million doses of anti-malaria drugs for children and nearly 2 million doses for adults. These supplies will be distributed to 536 government health facilities across the state.
Governor Ododo highlighted alarming statistics from the 2024 World Malaria Report, noting that Africa accounted for 94% of global malaria cases in 2023, with Nigeria contributing 30% of the 5,970 deaths recorded. He emphasized the importance of urgent intervention, given Kogi State’s malaria prevalence of 16% exceeds the national target of less than 10%.
The commissioner for Health, Dr. Abdulazeez Adams, emphasized the importance of the malaria prevention programme, which focuses on community engagement and ensuring every household has access to malaria test kits, drugs and insecticide-treated nets.
The Kogi State Government’s commitment to strengthening the health sector is a critical pillar of its development agenda and Governor Ododo expressed confidence that this initiative, alongside federal government healthcare reforms, would significantly reduce malaria prevalence and improve the quality of lives of the people of Kogi State.
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