The Federal Government has integrated the malaria vaccine into Nigeria’s national routine immunisation schedule as part of its intensified efforts to eliminate the disease, which costs the country $1.1 billion annually.
Speaking at the inaugural meeting of the Advisory on Malaria Elimination in Nigeria (AMEN) held in Abuja, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, Coordinating Minister for Health and Social Welfare, highlighted malaria’s devastating impact on health, the economy, and development.
“Malaria continues to exert an unacceptable toll on Nigeria,” Pate said. “With 27% of global malaria cases and 31% of malaria deaths, our country bears the heaviest burden. In 2022 alone, over 180,000 Nigerian children under five lost their lives to this disease—deaths we can prevent.”
He also emphasised the economic repercussions of malaria, describing it as more than a health crisis. “Malaria reduces productivity, increases out-of-pocket health expenditures, and worsens poverty. Its annual toll on Nigeria’s GDP exceeds $1.1 billion, underlining the urgent need for its elimination.”
The vaccine rollout, led by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), will begin in Kebbi and Bayelsa states during the first phase. According to the agency, this move will protect millions of children and bring Nigeria closer to a malaria-free future.
Malaria elimination is a key focus of the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII) and aligns with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda to transform the health sector.
The addition of the malaria vaccine to routine immunisation marks a significant milestone in the country’s fight against one of the deadliest diseases affecting children under five in Nigeria and across Africa.
