BY AUSTIN OYIBODE
Senator Ned Nwoko has made a compelling case for the establishment of a dedicated national agency to eliminate malaria in Nigeria, calling it a critical move to end the country’s long-standing battle with the deadly disease.
As sponsor of the bill, Senator Nwoko said the proposed legislation, A Bill for an Act to Establish the National Agency for Malaria Elimination (NAME) (SB.172), was the subject of a public hearing held at the National Assembly.
Addressing lawmakers, health experts, and members of civil society, Senator Nwoko described malaria as a structural and national emergency that continues to destroy lives and weaken the nation’s economic foundation.
Citing the World Health Organization’s 2024 report, he revealed that Africa records about 600,000 malaria-related deaths annually, with Nigeria alone accounting for over 184,000, more than any other country in the world.
“These are not just numbers,” Nwoko emphasized. “They represent devastated families, interrupted futures, and a nation crippled by a preventable disease.”
He lamented the normalization of malaria in Nigeria, arguing that if the disease were as prevalent in Europe or North America, the global community would have eradicated it long ago.
He pointed to the rapid global response to COVID-19, marked by swift vaccine development and massive funding, as evidence of what can be achieved when health threats are treated with urgency.
By contrast, he said, malaria continues to suffer from fragmented, underfunded, and poorly coordinated responses.
“Malaria is not just a health issue, it is a drag on our economy, a threat to maternal and child health, and a barrier to national development,” he said, noting that it accounts for about 11% of maternal deaths in Nigeria and contributes to severe anemia, miscarriages, stillbirths, and infant mortality.
He further explained that malaria reduces productivity through the loss of millions of man-hours each year, increases healthcare costs for businesses and families, and stunts national output, issues compounded by the nation’s scattered and under-resourced institutional response.
While highlighting personal efforts through his foundation, including organizing a high-level WHO strategy meeting in Idumuje Ugboko, Senator Nwoko argued that private initiatives cannot replace structured, state-led action.
He described the current setup as inadequate, pointing out that the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) lacks enforcement power, the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) lacks the scale to tackle the crisis, and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) plays a limited role in malaria control. Even the Presidential End Malaria Council, he said, lacks legislative authority and executive weight.
The proposed National Agency for Malaria Elimination, according to the senator, would change that. With legislative backing, NAME would be a centralized and autonomous body empowered to lead an aggressive, science-driven national response.
The agency would not only formulate and drive comprehensive eradication policies, but also coordinate cross-sectoral interventions with full authority, manage resources with transparency and efficiency, and invest heavily in research and innovation, including vaccine development and cutting-edge genetic approaches being explored around the world.
“Our mosquitoes are evolving. Our parasites are adapting. So must our institutional response,” Nwoko said. “We cannot defeat malaria with a scattered, underpowered system. We need a unified, well-resourced agency with the sole mission to end this disease.”
He urged Nigerians to support the bill and recognize the far-reaching implications of inaction.
“Nigeria cannot continue to lead the world in malaria deaths. This is not just about saving lives, it is about strengthening our health system, boosting our productivity, and securing a healthier future for generations to come.”
The hearing drew strong interest from health professionals, lawmakers, and international development partners, many of whom described the bill as a timely and necessary intervention. If passed, it could mark a turning point in Nigeria’s public health history and provide a blueprint for malaria eradication efforts across the continent.
