Nigeria Intensifies Malaria Fight As SFH Launches Major Prevention Campaign.
The Society for Family Health (SFH) has announced a bold new campaign to combat malaria in Nigeria, where the disease claims nine lives every hour and affects 97% of the population. The alarming statistics, revealed by SFH’s Social and Behavioural Change Specialist, Sesugh Deborah Oryiman, during a media orientation in Kano on Monday, 28 July 2025, underscore the urgent need for action against this preventable yet deadly public health crisis.
As part of the initiative, SFH plans to distribute 7.7 million insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) and over 15 million doses of seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) drugs to children aged three to 59 months across Kano’s 44 local government areas. Oryiman highlighted that malaria remains Nigeria’s most significant health challenge, with nearly 110 million clinically diagnosed cases annually. The disease accounts for 30% of child deaths and 11% of maternal deaths, disproportionately impacting children under five and pregnant women.
“Malaria is not just a health issue; it’s a social and economic burden,” Oryiman stated, noting that the disease costs Nigeria billions of naira yearly in treatment, prevention, and lost productivity, reducing the nation’s GDP by up to 40%. Despite a slight decline in malaria prevalence from 27% in 2015 to 22% in 2021, the hourly death toll and widespread impact demand intensified efforts.
The campaign, supported by the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), aligns with Nigeria’s 2021-2025 National Malaria Strategic Plan, which aims to reduce parasite prevalence to below 10% and mortality to fewer than 50 deaths per 1,000 live births by 2025. SFH’s efforts focus on increasing access to ITNs, which remain one of the most effective and affordable prevention methods, and ensuring SMC drugs reach vulnerable children during the rainy season, when mosquito activity peaks.
Local leaders and caregivers have welcomed the initiative. In Kano, community mobilisation efforts, including house-to-house sensitisation by civil society organisations, aim to address misconceptions about net usage and encourage consistent use. “We’re working to change behaviours and ensure every household has access to these life-saving tools,” said Oryiman.
The campaign also builds on Nigeria’s broader malaria control achievements, such as the approval of the R21 malaria vaccine and increased coverage of preventive treatments for pregnant women. While challenges like low antenatal care attendance and myths about ITNs persist, SFH’s proactive approach signals hope for reducing Nigeria’s malaria burden, which accounts for 27% of global cases and 31% of deaths.
With international support from the World Health Organisation and funding from multilateral banks, Nigeria is poised to make significant strides. The SFH campaign represents a critical step towards a healthier future, offering millions the chance to live free from the shadow of malaria.
