WHO Says Malaria Will Be Defeated In Nigeria By 2030 If…

World Health Organisation

WHO Advises Nigeria As It Commemorates World Malaria Day Themed “Ready to beat Malaria”.

The World Health Organisation, WHO, has stated that Nigeria and other sub-Saharan countries can overcome Malaria in 2030, if there were greater political commitment, adequate resources, strong coordination and dedicated partners.

WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, made this known at a press conference in Abuja yesterday, while marking the 2018 World Malaria Day.

World Malaria Day is commemorated on April 25 each year, and the theme for this year is “Ready to beat Malaria”.

Dr. Wondi Alemu, Moeti, who was represented by WHO Country Representative said: “Malaria remains a major public health and development challenge. The World Malaria Report 2017 documents an increase in global malaria cases in 2016 compared to 2015.

“Elimination of malaria requires above all political leadership at the highest level, as well as leadership of programmes, resource mobilization, and intersectoral and cross-border collaboration. We are ready to beat malaria, but the pace of progress must be accelerated to achieve a 40% drop in global malaria cases and deaths by 2020, compared to 2015 levels.

“World Malaria Day is an occasion to renew political commitment and to continue investing for malaria prevention and control. I call on countries affected by malaria to work with development partners to boost investments in malaria prevention and control, especially for new tools to combat malaria.

This will propel countries along the road to elimination, and contribute to the achievement of other Sustainable Development Goals, such as improving maternal and child health.

“I urge countries to allocate adequate resources and to work across sectors and strengthen cross-border collaboration. With the required resources, strong coordination and dedicated partners, we can accelerate our actions to achieve a malaria-free Africa. We are ready to beat malaria.”