Survey shows 35% decline in malaria prevalence

The 2015 Nigeria Malaria Indicator Survey (NMIS) report has shown that there is a 35% decline in malaria prevalence in the country since the last malaria indicator survey conducted in 2010.  The report which was launched recently by the federal government, also showed a marked decrease in the prevalence of the disease among children under […]

The 2015 Nigeria Malaria Indicator Survey (NMIS) report has shown that there is a 35% decline in malaria prevalence in the country since the last malaria indicator survey conducted in 2010.
 The report which was launched recently by the federal government, also showed a marked decrease in the prevalence of the disease among children under five and major improvements in prevention and treatment.
 According to the report, “Overall 27% of children age 6-59 months tested positive for malaria by microscopy in the 2015 NMIS. Malaria in children is most common in Kebbi (64%) and Zamfara (63%) while less than 10% of children tested positive for malaria in Kogi, Borno urban, Abia, Imo, Rivers and Lagos.”
 The survey was implemented by the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), Federal Ministry of Health, National Population Commission (NPopC) and the National Bureau of Statistics.
 During the launch of the report in Abuja, the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, said the 2015 NMIS was different from that of 2010 because its data was disaggregated to provide state specific indicators which also provided the opportunity to develop state specific malaria control strategies as the country moved towards malaria elimination.
He said there were a lot of improvements in most malaria indicators between NMIS 2010 and NMIS 2015.
 The percentage coverage of households with at least one long lasting insecticidal net increased from 42% in 2010 to 69% in 2015 while percentage utilization of the nets by under five children increased from 29% to 43%, he said.
 He also said percentage utilization by pregnant women increased from 28% in 2010 to 49% in 2015, adding that access to intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy increased from 13% to 37%.
 The minister said it is noteworthy that prevalence of malaria parasites among under five children decreased from 42% in 2010 to 27% in 2015.
 He said in spite of the improvements, the country was still far from the vision of a malaria free Nigeria, adding that the report should help government and partners reappraise its efforts to fight malaria in line with the current National Malaria Strategic Plan.