Senate approves bill to set up agency for malaria elimination

The Senate on Wednesday approved a bill to create the National Agency for Malaria Elimination in Nigeria.

The upper chamber passed the bill after considering the report from its Committee on Health, led by Banigo Ipalibo, the chairman.

The clauses of the bill were reviewed at the Committee of the Whole.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the bill's passage after most senators supported it through a voice vote.

The bill was sponsored by Ned Nwoko, who represents Delta North Senatorial District.

This legislation aims to set up an agency to manage national efforts to prevent, control, and eventually eliminate malaria in Nigeria. It also tasks the agency with creating and regularly updating a national malaria elimination strategy and coordinating malaria programs across the country.

In addition, the bill calls for the creation of zonal and state offices to push malaria elimination efforts throughout Nigeria. The agency is expected to institutionalize malaria elimination with a framework based on law, science, and accountability.

The bill will be sent to the House of Representatives for approval before going to President Bola Tinubu for signing.

While presenting the committee’s report, Mrs Ipalibo, who represents Rivers West Senatorial District under the All Progressives Congress (APC), said the proposed agency will be the main body for coordinating malaria prevention and elimination efforts in Nigeria.

“The agency will be responsible for coordinating all national efforts towards the prevention, control and eventual elimination of malaria,” she said.

She mentioned that stakeholders at the public hearing widely supported the bill. She emphasized that it would provide institutional tools at all government levels to fight malaria, which has been a major health issue in Nigeria.

She also said that setting up the agency would help change Nigeria’s focus from mainly treating malaria to preventing and eventually eliminating it.

Mr Nwoko added to the discussion by saying that eliminating malaria in Nigeria is both possible and within reach.

“In the course of my research on the elimination of malaria, I went to Antarctica with some of my legislative aides, after which I came up with the bill,” he said.

He insisted that malaria elimination can happen through a dedicated agency focused on effective waste management, fumigation, and vaccine research.

“Eradicating or eliminating malaria is achievable in Nigeria through a special agency for that purpose. The agency, when established, shall, through effective waste management, fumigation and research on vaccines, see to the elimination of malaria in Nigeria,” he added.

After announcing the bill's passage, Mr Akpabio called the legislation a major step in the fight against malaria, which he pointed out still affects many Nigerians.

Malaria remains one of Nigeria’s biggest public health problems, despite many years of efforts from governments, international organizations, and development partners.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Nigeria has the highest malaria burden worldwide, accounting for about 27 percent of the world's malaria cases and nearly 32 percent of malaria-related deaths. Along with the Democratic Republic of Congo and Niger Republic, Nigeria makes up more than half of all malaria deaths in Africa.

The disease spreads through bites from infected female Anopheles mosquitoes and is common across the country, especially in the rainy season when mosquito breeding rises.

Children under five and pregnant women are the most at risk. WHO estimates show that children under five make up most malaria-related deaths in Africa. In Nigeria, malaria is one of the leading causes of illness, hospital visits, and deaths among young children.

Besides its health effects, malaria also has a heavy economic impact on Nigeria. The disease leads to school absences, lower productivity, higher healthcare costs for families, and stress on the health system. Experts believe Nigeria loses billions of naira yearly due to treatment expenses, reduced productivity, and avoidable deaths linked to malaria.

Although Nigeria has made strides through distributing insecticide-treated mosquito nets, seasonal malaria prevention programs, indoor residual spraying, and better access to diagnosis and treatment, the disease still poses a significant threat due to poor sanitation, limited healthcare access, drug resistance, climate issues, and funding shortages.

In 2024, Nigeria started using the Oxford R21 malaria vaccine, becoming one of the first African countries to roll out this vaccine to cut down infections and deaths among children. Health officials stress that vaccination should go hand in hand with other preventive measures like mosquito nets, environmental sanitation, and prompt treatment.