In Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, the malaria outbreak is reported to cause an annual economic loss of $1 billion.
Muhammad Ali Pate, Nigeria’s Minister of Health and Social Welfare Coordination, spoke at a meeting titled “Malaria Elimination Consultancy in Nigeria” in the capital, Abuja.
Minister Pate emphasized that malaria is not only a health crisis but also an urgent issue that requires immediate solutions for the country’s economy and development.
He stated that malaria causes an annual economic loss of $1 billion in Nigeria and reiterated the government’s commitment to eliminating the disease.
Highlighting the severe impact of malaria in Nigeria, Pate noted, “27% of global malaria cases and 31% of global malaria deaths occur in Nigeria. Our country bears the heaviest burden of this disease.”
Pate also pointed out that in 2022, more than 180,000 children under the age of five died from malaria in Nigeria, stressing that this tragedy is preventable.