Tunji Alausa and other stakeholders met to draft Nigeria’s malaria chemoprevention policy.
Eko Hot Blog reports that Nigeria may soon get a National Perennial Malaria Chemoprevention Policy as stakeholders, including Dr. Tunji Alausa, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, met on Tuesday.
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The National Perennial Malaria Chemoprevention (PMC) Research and Policy Uptake Task Team (NPRPUT) met for its third meeting on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, at the Bon Hotel Elvis, 2 Monrovia Street, Off Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja.
The NPRPUT team was inaugurated in July 2021 and held its first meeting. The second meeting was held in February 2022 to discuss the results of the formative research study.
Addressing the team today at its third meeting, Dr. Alausa expressed optimism that the deliberations can help Nigeria solve its malaria problem.
The minister lamented that Nigeria has continued to occupy the unenviable position of highest burden for malaria with 27% and 31% of total cases and death respectively (from World Malaria Report 2023).
He said the country must therefore reverse the scourge of this public health menace “that has been killing our children and pregnant women among other vulnerable groups.”
“We are therefore gathered to review the PMC results so far, provide crucial input into results interpretation, implications, and facilitate decision making for PMC,” Dr. Alausa told stakeholders.
“Let us seize this opportunity to engage in fruitful discussions on the progress, deliberate on possible scaling up of PMC in Nigeria towards contributing to the reduction in under five mortalities in the country.”
The health minister noted that, though his ministry continues to provide strategic and policy direction through the implementation of the current National Malaria Strategic Plan 2021 – 2025, PMC Policy adoption is one of the efforts the government anticipates would yield the desired result.
He commended the support of the NPRPUT funding and implementing partners notably the Bill and Mellinda Gates Foundation and Malaria Consortium.
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Dr. Alausa also thanked all Health Workers at the service delivery point working in collaboration with the study team.
Read the full text of his address below:
I am delighted to deliver this keynote address at this important gathering of the National Perennial Malaria Chemoprevention (PMC) Research and Policy Uptake Task Team (NPRPUT) meeting. This meeting is coming at a time when our Ministry’s drive in rethinking malaria is more than ever before which we demonstrated by convening symposium that brought global stakeholders, where we resolved to deploy available tools through subnational tailoring of intervention. Similarly, Nigeria participated in the Yaounde Declaration that had Ministers of Health from the 11 highest burden countries that jointly agreed and signed to increase political commitment at tackling malaria amongst other resolution.
2. Distinguished participants, recall in 2020, the Federal Ministry of Health’s National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) during the development of the National Malaria Strategic Plan (2021-2025) included the need to pilot Perennial Malaria Chemoprevention (previously known as Intermittent Preventive Treatment in Infancy) in non-Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) eligible states, which are majorly in the southern part of the country, with the aim of generating evidence to inform decision making for the adoption of PMC as an additional intervention to increase progress towards malaria elimination.
3. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommended Perennial Malaria Chemoprevention (PMC) for children under 24 months in malaria endemic countries to build on the successes of other control and prevention strategies such as vector control, drug-based prevention, prompt diagnosis and treatment of confirmed malaria cases and surveillance among other intervention already adopted and deployed in country.
4. It is pertinent to note that the primary outcome of this PMC- effect study is to catalyse decision making in Nigeria regarding PMC policy adoption. The study will demonstrate to the Nigerian government the feasibility and effectiveness of PMC implementation within the Nigerian context, and therefore enable us make informed decision on deploying the intervention to complement other malaria interventions, especially in perennial malaria transmission setting in the spirit of sub-national tailoring and adoption of appropriate mix of interventions in targeted areas.
5. Distinguished stakeholders, let me reiterate that we are gathered here today at the 3rd National PMC Research and Policy Uptake Task Team (NPRPUT) meeting. This NPRPUT team has been assigned a very important task of facilitating decision making for adoption of PMC using data generated from the study. The task team constitute of relevant experts from government programs, academia and professional and trade organizations in Nigeria, and co-chaired by representatives from NMEP and NPHCDA. The NPRPUT team was inaugurated in July 2021. The second meeting was held in February 2022 to discuss the results of the formative research study.
6. We are therefore gathered to review the PMC results so far, provide crucial input into results interpretation, implications, and facilitate decision making for PMC. Let us seize this opportunity to engage in fruitful discussions on the progress, deliberate on possible scaling up of PMC in Nigeria towards contributing to the reduction in under five mortalities in the country.
7. Ladies and Gentlemen, we cannot over emphasize the need for this type of gathering as Nigeria has continued to occupy the unenviable position of highest burden for malaria with 27% and 31% of total cases and death respectively (from World Malaria Report 2023). We must therefore reverse the scourge of this public health menace that has been killing our children and pregnant women among other vulnerable groups.
8. I want to reemphasize that the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare is not relenting in its drive towards elimination of malaria as we have continued to provide strategic and policy direction through the implementation of the current National Malaria Strategic Plan 2021 – 2025. PMC Policy adoption is one of these efforts which we anticipate would yield the desired result.
9. As we convene here today, I am confident that the collective wisdom, expertise, and dedication in this room will further pave the way for an impactful PMC intervention. Your presence and active engagement will undoubtedly contribute to our shared mission of improving public health. Together, we can make a significant impact and work towards a future where malaria is no longer a threat to our nation.
10. At this juncture, I want to commend the incredible support of our funding and implementing partners notably the Bill and Mellinda Gates Foundation and Malaria Consortium. We also thank the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Department of Health Planning Research and Statistics, State Malaria Elimination Programmes (SMEPs) and State Primary Health Development Agency (SPHCDA). I continue to appreciate the effort of all Health Workers at the service delivery point working tirelessly in collaboration with the study team.
11. Let me conclude by extending my sincere appreciation to all the participants and wish you all fruitful deliberations.
12. Thank you.
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