PAN STATEMENT ON WORLD MALARIA DAY 2025
The Paediatric Association of Nigeria (PAN) joins the global health community in commemorating World Malaria Day 2025, a day dedicated to raising awareness and strengthening efforts to combat malaria, a disease that continues to disproportionately affect children in Nigeria.
Malaria remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among children in Nigeria, with the country accounting for approximately 25% of the global malaria burden. Despite significant progress, malaria continues to claim lives, particularly among vulnerable populations such as infants and young children. Malaria is still the leading cause of under-five mortality in Nigeria. Introducing malaria vaccines and other preventive measures offers hope, but sustained commitment is required to ensure widespread access and implementation.
The Government of Nigeria, under the leadership of Prof. Mohammed Ali Pate, has demonstrated commendable dedication to malaria control and elimination. The Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) has facilitated coordinated efforts among stakeholders, ensuring that malaria interventions are effectively implemented. Additionally, the government’s swift response to the U.S. stop-work order on USAID support has reinforced Nigeria’s commitment to maintaining essential malaria programs despite external funding challenges.
Nigeria’s rethinking of malaria strategies has led to innovative prevention, diagnosis, and treatment approaches. These include optimizing existing interventions, adopting new interventions such as larval source management, strategically using indoor residual spraying, and perennial malaria chemoprevention. Introducing the malaria vaccine marks a significant milestone in the fight against the disease, offering additional protection for children at risk. PAN applauds these developments and urges continued investment in vaccine distribution and accessibility, as well as other interventions. The association also appreciates the commitment to unlock the malaria value chain, making malaria a focal point for economic activities with the initiatives around local manufacturing of antimalarial commodities such as Insecticide-treated nets, rapid diagnostic test kits, and antimalarial medicines.
As a professional body dedicated to child health, PAN reaffirms its unwavering support for malaria control efforts. Through its members, PAN will: Advocate for increased funding and policy support for malaria interventions. Provide technical expertise in malaria prevention and treatment. Support capacity-building initiatives for healthcare professionals. Engage in community outreach to promote awareness and education on malaria prevention. On this World Malaria Day, PAN calls on all stakeholders—government agencies, healthcare professionals, international partners, and the private sector—to reinvest, reimagine, and reignite efforts to eliminate malaria in Nigeria. Together, we can ensure a future where no child suffers from this preventable disease. Malaria must indeed end with us.
Dr Ekanem Ekure
President
Dr Chika Duru
Secretary
