Malaria Kills 9 Nigerians Every Hour, Affects 97% of Population — SFH Raises Alarm
Report by Okafor Joseph and Rita Uzuh for SpringnewsNG Media Limited.
KANO, Nigeria — The Society for Family Health (SFH) has raised a disturbing alarm over the growing impact of malaria in Nigeria, revealing that nine Nigerians die every hour from the disease. The organization also disclosed that 97% of the population is affected by the malaria burden.
This alarming statistic was revealed by Sesugh Deborah Oryiman, SFH’s Social and Behavioural Change Specialist, during a media orientation event on the upcoming Integrated Insecticide-Treated Nets (ITNs) distribution and Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) campaign in Kano.
As part of the campaign, the SFH announced plans to distribute 7.7 million insecticide-treated nets and over 15 million doses of Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine-Amodiaquine (SPAQ) to children aged 3 to 59 months across various communities in the state. The goal is to drastically reduce the prevalence of malaria, particularly among vulnerable groups.
“Malaria remains the most common yet preventable public health challenge in Nigeria,” Oryiman said. “It affects 97% of the population, with children under five years and pregnant women being the most vulnerable.”
She revealed that Nigeria records nearly 110 million clinically diagnosed malaria cases annually, accounting for 30% of child deaths and 11% of maternal deaths. Furthermore, Nigeria carries 25% of the global malaria burden, with one out of every five malaria-related deaths globally occurring in the country.
“Two in every four people with malaria in West Africa live in Nigeria. Malaria also ranks as the leading cause of absenteeism in schools, offices, farms, and markets, leading to a 40% annual reduction in GDP and costing billions of naira in treatment and lost productivity,” she added.
Despite the rising number of cases, there has been a slight decline in malaria prevalence from 27% in 2015 to 22% in 2021, according to microscopy results. However, Oryiman emphasized that prevention remains the most cost-effective solution, urging Nigerians to consistently sleep inside treated mosquito nets to avoid mosquito bites.
To ensure the campaign’s success, SFH is focusing on high-burden local government areas and wards across Kano State. The SPAQ distribution will cover all 44 LGAs, targeting households with children under five.
Also speaking at the event, Babangida Gwarzo, Programme Manager of the Kano State Malaria Elimination Programme (SMEPM), said over 27,000 Community Mobilizers and Distributors (CMDs) have been deployed to administer the SPAQ doses door-to-door. The initiative aims to reach more than 3 million children, with caregivers also receiving incentives to collect treated nets.
Gwarzo urged caregivers to ensure their children receive the SPAQ treatment, especially during the rainy season, when malaria transmission is at its peak.
