97 percent of the population in Nigeria were  at risk of malaria infection

By Nabila Khamis 

Research unveiled that , 97 percent of the population in Nigeria were  at risk of malaria infection .

According to the World Malaria Report 2021, Nigeria accounts for a major portion of the
global malaria burden with 32 percent cases and 27 percent of the total  death recorded worldwide.

The report also indicated that Zamfara state had a significant share of this burden which was emanated as a result of multiple challenges such as  Widespread of Insecurity and weak
governance structures that resulted in inadequate funding in the war against the disease.

To reduce global malaria incidence and mortality by 4o
percent ,the world health organisation has estimated that the world annual funding of Malaria would need
to reach 6.4 billion US dollars.

The estimated total cost of eliminating malaria in
Nigeria as programmed in the National Malaria Elimination
Strategic Plan 2021 to 2025 was 1.89 trillion naira.

In view of this , stakeholders have converged in Gusau, the Zamfara  state capital  to discuss thoroughly on the  imperatives of Domestic Resource Mobilisation , DRM, to fight the disease   and to promote understanding of Annual Operation Plan or  malaria operation  plan .

The one day Orientation and Capacity building workshop  was organised by the  Nigerian Interfaith Action Association , NIFAA, and President's Malaria initiative for States, PMI-S for  State malaria elimination officers, state Advocacy, communication and social mobilisation committee members among other relevant stakeholders.

  Malam Murtada Abdulrahman , monitoring and evaluation manager , and Dr  Halima Ibrahim , programme manager of the Nigeria Interfaith Action Association , NIFAA, during the event have dueled more on the need to concentrate more  on domestic Resource mobilisation to actively  sponsor the battle against malaria in the country and Zamfara state in particular.

This according to them was imperative  due to the fact that international Donors' have changed their Focus , and other factors  such as dwindling support, international realities  , and competitive intervention demand,. among others.

During the meeting many  stakeholders have suggested ways forward in achieving success 
with the regard to  domestic resource mobilisation for effective war against malaria in Zamfara state and country at large.