FG Moves to Expand Infant Malaria Protection

The Federal Government has begun the policy process for the nationwide rollout of Perennial Malaria Chemoprevention (PMC), a new intervention designed to protect infants from malaria. The decision follows encouraging results from an implementation study that showed the programme could help reduce malaria-related deaths among children under five across Nigeria.

Speaking at the Perennial Malaria Chemoprevention (PMC) Dissemination Meeting in Abuja, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, directed the Department of Public Health (DPH) and the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) to begin policy work that will support the wider introduction of Perennial Malaria Chemoprevention. He noted that the government would also assess the intervention’s cost-effectiveness before full implementation.

Salako explained that the research, which began in 2023, was introduced under the National Malaria Strategic Plan 2021–2025 to generate evidence for states not covered by Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention. The Perennial Malaria Chemoprevention programme targets children under 24 months living in areas with year-round malaria transmission, particularly in southern Nigeria.

He said the intervention aligns with World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations for malaria-endemic countries and complements existing strategies such as vector control, early diagnosis, treatment and disease surveillance.

Although Nigeria has reduced malaria prevalence from 42 per cent in 2010 to 15 per cent in 2025, Salako said the country still accounts for 24.3 per cent of global malaria cases and 30.3 per cent of malaria-related deaths, according to the 2025 World Malaria Report.

The minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to implementing the National Malaria Strategic Plan 2026–2030, adding that the adoption of Perennial Malaria Chemoprevention represents another evidence-based step towards reducing child deaths and achieving a malaria-free Nigeria. He also praised the Gates Foundation, Malaria Consortium, government agencies, state governments and frontline health workers for supporting the initiative.

Do you think expanding preventive healthcare programmes like PMC will significantly reduce child mortality in Nigeria?