From Olanrewaju Lawal, Birnin Kebbi, John Bassey, Gusau
In commemoration of World Malaria Day 2025, the University of Lagos (UNILAG) came alive as major health organisations, Green Life Pharmaceuticals, Green Life Hospital, Seagreen Pharmaceutical, and Clearline HMO, joined forces to lead an awareness and prevention campaign.
This is coming as the Rotary Healthy Communities Challenge, a project under the Rotary International in partnership with the PATH decided to tackle the disease in hard-to-reach terrains in six local government areas of Kebbi State.
In Zamfara, the state Ministry of Health in collaboration with the International Rescue committee and other partners marked the day with a lecture highlighting its anti-malaria activities over the past years.
The initiative in Lagos, was driven by a common goal: to eradicate malaria from Nigeria through education, community engagement, and access to testing and treatment.
Held on April 25, the event was themed “Malaria Ends with Us: Reinvest, Re-imagine, Reignite.” Hundreds of students and community members gathered to participate in free malaria testing and received malaria-prevention kits and medication, courtesy of the collaborating partners. Beyond the distribution of medical supplies, the event served as a powerful platform to educate young people about malaria, its symptoms, prevention, and the dangers of drug abuse in relation to health management.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Peter Nwosu, Executive Director of Green Life Pharmaceuticals, underscored the importance of the event, highlighting it as both a commemorative and impactful outreach.
“We are here not just to mark a global health awareness day but to make a real difference in this vibrant community,” he stated. He emphasised the seriousness of malaria, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, and reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to improving public health through its Corporate Social Responsibility programmes.
Dr. Oghenerukevwe Peretomode, Medical Officer with Clearline HMO, stressed the need for a collective response from both the government and individuals to reduce the incidence of malaria. She called for more funding, innovation, and public education to support malaria prevention efforts. “Everyone has a role to play,” she said, “from using mosquito-treated nets and maintaining clean environments to avoiding actions that promote mosquito breeding, like dumping refuse in drainage systems.” Dr. Peretomode also pointed out that climate change, through increased flooding and warmer weather, is contributing to the rise in malaria cases, further emphasising the need for environmental responsibility.
The event’s focus on youth was intentional. According to Mr. Chris Ikeagu, General Manager of Green Life Hospital, “we chose UNILAG because we wanted to engage young people directly. They are the ones who can carry the message forward to their homes and communities. Older generations are already familiar with malaria, but we believe that prevention starts with youth education.”
In Kebbi, the kick-malaria-out initiative would kick off in Argungu, Augie, Bagudo, Shanga, Fakai and Aliero local government areas.
Country Lead of Rotary Healthy Communities Challenge, Dr. Dele Balogun who disclosed this at a press conference in Birnin Kebbi as part of activities to mark World Malaria Day, explained that Kebbi and Akwa-Ibom states are the pilot states out of 36 states of the federation.
Balogun noted that “the Rotary Healthy Communities Challenge would implement our strategies with partners’ funds within our disposal to eradicate malaria.”
Balogun, who also disclosed that 265 million new cases of malaria were discovered across the world in 2023, revealed that 597,000 people out of the figures died, stressing that 97 percent of total new cases discovered were found in Africa.
While speaking on the progress made, he disclosed that 45 countries had been certified free of malaria, and Togo would soon be a part of them.
He stressed that with proper sanitation of the environment, drainage system, adequate waste disposal and other hygiene practices, Nigeria could join the league of the nation free of the disease within the shortest time.
Earlier, the Kebbi State Commissioner for Information and Culture, Alhaji Yakubu Ahmed Birnin Kebbi, assured the organisation of the readiness of the state government to support them to succeed in their mission in the state
In his remark, the Executive Secretary of Primary Health Development Agency, Alhaji Abubakar Muhammad Noma noted that with the ongoing commitment of the state government, malaria would be eradicated in the next two to three years in the state.
Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Muhammad Samaila Mera, represented by District Head of Gulma, Alhaji Bashar, Muhammad Gulma, assured the organization of the total support of the Argungu Emirate stressing that malaria would be tacked like the manner polio disease was eradicated in the state.
At a ceremony held at Zamfara State Ministry of Health’s J.B secretariat conference Hall, Gusau, the Hon Commissioner of Health Dr. Nafisa Muhammad Maradun represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Bashiru Surajo Gusau, said malaria day is a period when every country showcases its success in the fight against malaria.
According to Dr Maradun, in 2023-2024, 3.2 million insecticide-treated nets were distributed with support from the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative, achieving 98 per cent utilisation.
The Commissioner further explained that 1.5 million children under five years received seasonal malaria chemoprevention, SMC in 2024.
She stated that data from 2025 portrayed a 98.6 per cent malaria testing rate and 99.2% of positive cases consistently maintained since 2022.
She noted that preventative treatment for pregnant women in their first trimester increased from 48% to 80.1% as of the first quarter of 2024 and the first quarter of 2025.
She said that the malaria prevalence rate has decreased from 62.8% last December to 54% as of January 2025, with clinically diagnosed cases dropping from 5% in 2023 to under 1% this year.
She commended the state governor Dr. Dauda Lawal, for prioritising health and partners for their support.