By: Peter Emmanuel |
The Federal Government has begun the process to expand the use of Perennial Malaria Chemoprevention (PMC), a World Health Organisation (WHO)-recommended intervention aimed at protecting infants living in areas with year-round malaria transmission.
The move is part of efforts to strengthen malaria prevention and accelerate progress towards eliminating the disease, particularly among children under two years who remain highly vulnerable to severe malaria complications.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, announced the policy direction during a dissemination meeting on the implementation research for PMC held in Abuja.
Dr Salako directed the Department of Public Health and the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) to begin the policy process for wider adoption of the intervention following encouraging findings from a pilot programme.
He said government policies must be guided by scientific evidence and local realities, noting that expanding access to proven prevention measures remains critical to reducing the malaria burden in Nigeria.
FG Begins Policy Process for Wider Access
The pilot programme was introduced under the National Malaria Strategic Plan 2021–2025 to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of PMC in states where Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) is not implemented.
Dr Salako said the findings from the implementation research showed promising outcomes, but added that the government would also consider the cost-effectiveness of the intervention before full-scale adoption.
“The team that conducted this study has produced very promising outcomes. As government, we also want to assess the cost-effectiveness of the intervention,” the minister said.
He directed relevant health agencies to work towards creating the policy framework needed to introduce PMC as part of Nigeria’s malaria prevention strategies.
The minister added that the intervention would complement existing malaria control measures while ensuring that infants in high-risk areas receive stronger protection.
New Strategy Targets Year-Round Malaria Risk
Perennial Malaria Chemoprevention is designed to provide preventive malaria treatment for infants in locations where malaria transmission occurs throughout the year.
Unlike Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention, which is mainly deployed during periods of peak transmission, PMC focuses on protecting children in areas where the risk of malaria remains constant.
The Federal Government said the intervention would promote greater equity by extending malaria prevention services to infants in regions, particularly southern Nigeria, where seasonal programmes are not currently applied.
The move comes as Nigeria continues to battle one of the highest malaria burdens globally despite recording progress in reducing prevalence.
According to the 2025 Nigeria Malaria Indicator Survey, malaria prevalence declined from 42 per cent in 2010 to 15 per cent in 2025, although the country still accounts for a significant share of global malaria cases and deaths.
Nigeria Intensifies Malaria Elimination Efforts
The Federal Government said the wider adoption of PMC aligns with the implementation of the National Malaria Strategic Plan 2026–2030, which focuses on evidence-based interventions, stronger health systems and improved service delivery.
Dr Salako reaffirmed the government’s commitment to reducing malaria infections and improving access to prevention and treatment services across the country.
He said Nigeria’s malaria elimination efforts require collaboration among government institutions, development partners, state governments and frontline health workers.
The minister commended stakeholders supporting malaria programmes in the country, describing their contributions as important to sustaining progress in prevention and control.
The government said expanding proven interventions such as PMC will form part of broader efforts to achieve a malaria-free Nigeria.
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