Senate approves bill to set up agency for malaria elimination

The Senate on Wednesday approved a bill aimed at creating the National Agency for Malaria Elimination in Nigeria.

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

The clauses of the bill were discussed 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 introduced by Ned Nwoko, the senator for Delta North Senatorial District.

This legislation aims to set up an agency that will lead national efforts to stop, control, and eventually get rid of malaria in Nigeria. It also requires the agency to create and regularly update a national malaria elimination plan and manage malaria programs across the country.

Additionally, the bill plans to set up zonal and state offices to boost malaria elimination efforts nationwide. The agency should make malaria elimination part of the law, backed by science and accountability.

The bill will go to the House of Representatives for agreement before being sent to President Bola Tinubu for approval.

While presenting the committee’s report, Mrs Ipalibo, who represents Rivers West Senatorial District under the All Progressives Congress (APC), said the new agency would be the main body for malaria prevention and elimination 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 many stakeholders at the public hearing strongly backed the bill. She noted that the agency would provide structures at all government levels to fight malaria, which continues to be a major health problem in the country.

She added that setting up the agency would help Nigeria shift its focus from mostly treating malaria cases to preventing and finally getting rid of the disease.

During the debate, Mr Nwoko said that eliminating malaria in Nigeria is possible and achievable.

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

He insisted that malaria elimination could 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 set up, 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 significant step in the fight against malaria, which he noted is still one of the most common diseases affecting Nigerians.

Malaria is one of Nigeria’s biggest public health challenges, even after decades of efforts by governments, international groups, and development partners.

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that Nigeria has the highest malaria burden in the world, making up about 27 percent of global malaria cases and nearly 32 percent of malaria-related deaths. Nigeria, along with the Democratic Republic of Congo and Niger Republic, accounts for over half of all malaria deaths in Africa.

The disease spreads through bites from infected female Anopheles mosquitoes and is widespread in the country, especially during the rainy season when mosquitoes breed more.

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

Besides its health effects, malaria creates a big economic burden for Nigeria. It causes school absenteeism, lowers productivity, increases healthcare costs, and puts pressure on the health system. Experts believe Nigeria loses billions of naira each year due to treatment costs, lost productivity, and preventable deaths from malaria.

Though the country has made strides with insecticide-treated mosquito nets, seasonal malaria prevention programs, indoor spraying, and better diagnosis and treatment access, malaria still poses a big threat due to poor sanitation, lack of healthcare access, drug resistance, climate issues, and funding shortages.

In 2024, Nigeria received and started using the Oxford R21 malaria vaccine, becoming one of the first countries in Africa to use the vaccine to reduce infections and deaths among children. Health officials, however, say vaccination must go hand in hand with existing prevention measures like mosquito nets, good sanitation, and prompt treatment.