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From Jude Chinedu, Enugu
The Enugu State government said malaria prevalence in the state has dropped significantly to 9.9 per cent, down from about 24 per cent, in what officials describe as a major public health milestone.
The state Commissioner for Health, Prof. George Ugwu, made the disclosure in Enugu during the commemoration of World Malaria Day, attributing the decline to sustained government interventions and strong partnerships.
He said the state had made malaria testing and treatment free in all 560 health facilities across its 17 local government areas.
“We have ensured that malaria testing and treatment are provided free of charge in all our health facilities,” Ugwu said. “This is part of our broader effort to eliminate malaria in Enugu State.”
He described the 2026 World Malaria Day theme, “Driven to end malaria: We can, we must end malaria,” as timely, noting that it reflects the state’s intensified push against the disease.
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Ugwu also commended development partners, particularly the Excellence Community Education Welfare Scheme (ECEWS), for their continued support in expanding access to malaria services.
Chief Executive Officer of ECEWS in Nigeria, Dr Andy Eyo, said the organisation’s intervention has helped scale up malaria services across the state.
“Today, services have been taken to all health facilities across Enugu State. People can now get tested and treated for malaria free of charge,” Eyo said.
He explained that the programme is supported by the National Malaria Elimination Programme, with funding from the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), in collaboration with the state government.
Eyo added that the organisation has also enrolled over 1,000 pregnant women in a health insurance scheme to improve maternal care and access to malaria prevention services.
“Our board and management approved health insurance coverage for 1,000 pregnant women. We are paying their premiums, which means they can access antenatal care, deliver in hospitals, and receive malaria prevention and treatment services at no cost,” he said.
