The minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, has said ‘Nigeria needs over a trillion naira to effectively combat malaria.
Ehanire added that the country required more than N350 billion to fight the disease in 2021 alone.
He disclosed this on Friday at a press conference to commemorate the 2021World Malarial in Abuja, with the theme “Zero Malaria.”
The implementation of the new strategic plan will cost N1.89 trillion; about N352 billion is required for the year 2021 programmeimplementation.
“The theme of this year’s commemoration is Zero Malaria – Draw the Line Against Malaria, and the slogan ‘Stand Up, Take Action’ which is to empower communities in various countries to take ownership of preventing malaria and providing proper care and treatment to those in need, are germane,” he said.
He said further that the federal government “does not have the adequate amount required to fight the disease this year,” attributing it to the prevailing economic circumstances occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic
Ehanire, therefore, called on the private sector, various corporate organisations, and patriotic individuals to support the government to tackle malaria.
He added that the government was working to establish a Malaria Council that would help to drive domestic funding for the elimination of the disease.
