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From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has raised concerns over a significant rise in malaria cases, with approximately 1.4 million people infected in 2024.
The number represents about 25 percent of Abuja’s population.
The Mandate Secretary of the FCT, Health Services and Environment, Adedolapo Fasawe made this disclosure at the flag-off of the unbundling and distribution of malaria drugs and free test kits.
Nigeria accounts for a substantial portion of global malaria cases, highlighting the need for enhanced prevention and treatment efforts.
Recent initiatives, such as free malaria testing and treatment programmes, were aimed at addressing this public health concern effectively.
“Only one thing causes malaria, which is mosquitoes. If we can eliminate mosquitoes, we can eliminate malaria. However, the network of roads provided by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has provided access to communities during emergencies.
“Today, we have taken decisive and deliberate action to fight malaria. Malaria remains a leading cause of death among women and children under five.
“Nigeria is responsible for 27 percent of global malaria prevalence, the highest figure in the world. A survey carried out by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2024 said 1.4 million people of the population of FCT suffered from malaria. The FCT is between five and six million people, making it five percent of malaria prevalence.”
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Fasawe, highlighted that Wike’s payment of the FCT’s counterpart funding last year has enabled the territory’s participation in this year’s malaria programme. Emphasising the urgency of the situation, she noted that the fight against malaria was a fight for life, as every five minutes, a child dies from malaria in Nigeria. This underscores the critical need for sustained efforts to combat the disease. “We want to kick out malaria from the FCT and Nigeria as a whole,” she said.
In a bid to eradicate malaria, she said FCT administration had initiated a comprehensive programme providing free test kits and treatment with medicines.
Fasawe noted that a recent survey conducted in 2024 revealed that 60 percent of children in the FCT presented with clear cases of malaria, highlighting the urgency of the situation.
To combat this, all public health facilities in the FCT have been equipped with free health kits and drugs. Strict measures are in place to ensure compliance, with facilities facing sanctions if found selling these resources. Additionally, insecticide-treated nets are being distributed to pregnant women and nursing mothers to further reduce malaria transmission. This initiative underscores the commitment to achieving a malaria-free FCT.
“The duration of the programme would be for two years while to keep drugs available all through the year, procurement would be carried out as and when needed,” she said.
Acting permanent secretary of Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Abubakar Ahmadu, said the programme would improve access to health care and reduce out of pocket money of the people.
He urged health care practitioners to make judicious use of the kits and drugs.
The representative of Famkris Healthcare Initiative, Maureen Ugochuku, one of the NGOs partnering with the FCT, said malaria remained Nigeria’s most pressing public health challenge. She said the economic toll was equally devastating as households spend scarce resources on treatment, while businesses suffer during malaria attacks.
The project was co-funded by the Islamic Development Bank.
