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The Senate has passed the National Agency for Malaria Elimination Bill, establishing a dedicated agency to coordinate Nigeria’s efforts to eradicate malaria, one of the country’s deadliest diseases.
The bill, sponsored by Senator Ned Nwoko, provides for the creation of an agency that will oversee national malaria prevention, control, and elimination programmes.
According to the legislation, the agency will coordinate efforts including waste management, fumigation, and vaccine research to combat malaria, which remains a leading cause of death in Nigeria.
Nigeria bears the highest malaria burden globally, accounting for approximately 27 per cent of the world’s malaria cases and 31 per cent of malaria deaths, according to the World Health Organization.
The bill is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s public health response to malaria by creating a specialised agency with a clear mandate, as opposed to the current fragmented approach where malaria control falls under multiple agencies.
The passage of the bill represents a significant legislative step toward addressing one of Nigeria’s most persistent public health challenges.
Sources: Premium Times
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