The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has announced that Nigeria is responsible for 27 per cent of the world’s malaria prevalence, with the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) accounting for 5 per cent of that figure.
This revelation was made during a ceremony in Abuja marking the launch of a programme aimed at distributing malaria medications and free testing kits.
The FCT Mandate Secretary for Health Services and the Environment Secretariat, Dr. Dolapo Fasawe, explained the ongoing threat of malaria, particularly to children under five and women.
“Only one thing causes malaria, which is the mosquito. If we can eliminate mosquitoes, we can eliminate malaria. However, the network of roads developed by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has improved access to communities during emergencies,” she stated.
Fasawe further explained that Nigeria has the highest malaria prevalence in the world, with a 2024 survey by the World Health Organization revealing that 1.4 million residents of the FCT suffer from the disease.
“The fight against malaria is a fight for life; in every five minutes, a child dies from malaria in Nigeria. Our goal is to eradicate malaria from the FCT and the nation as a whole,” she said.
She said that the administration is providing free test kits and treatments, adding that a 2024 survey revealed that 60 per cent of children presenting at health facilities in the FCT showed clear signs of malaria.
The mandate secretary assured the public that all healthcare facilities in the FCT would receive free health kits and medications, warning that any facility found selling these resources would face penalties.
She said that the insecticide-treated nets would be distributed to pregnant women and nursing mothers.
While pointing out the preventable nature of malaria, Fasawe asserted that effective treatment could significantly reduce the incidence of the disease and that the two-year programme would ensure a continuous supply of drugs through timely procurement.
Earlier, the acting permanent secretary of the Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr Abubakar Ahmadi, added that the programme aimed to enhance healthcare access and reduce household financial burden.
