The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, on Thursday disclosed that Nigeria is averting an estimated 18 million malaria cases every year through intensified national control efforts.
Salako gave the figure while speaking in Abuja at the second day of the 2025 Nigeria Health Sector-Wide Joint Annual Review, themed “Strengthening Nigeria’s Health System Resilience for Sustainable and Inclusive Care.”
He attributed the milestone to the federal government’s investments in the National Malaria Eradication Programme, including the distribution of over 63 million insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) between 2021 and 2023.
The minister said the country now records 70 per cent household ownership of ITNs, while 51 per cent of pregnant women received malaria preventive therapy in the same period.
“Despite the challenges, our health system continues to record significant milestones. Malaria cases averted are estimated to be about 18 million annually, maternal and child deaths are reducing, and more women are accessing skilled birth attendants,” he said.
Salako highlighted improvements in several key health indicators, citing preliminary figures from the 2023 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS).
According to him, maternal mortality has dropped from 576 to 512 deaths per 100,000 live births, while under-five mortality declined from 132 to 110 deaths per 1,000 live births.
He added that skilled birth attendance has risen to 53 per cent, full immunisation coverage is now 39 per cent, while modern contraceptive use stands at 20 per cent.
Despite the progress, the minister admitted that Nigeria’s health system remains burdened by weak financing, overstretched infrastructure and an acute shortage of medical personnel.
According to him, the country’s doctor-to-patient ratio of 1:5,000 is far below the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation of 1:600.
He also lamented that government health spending is still at 5.2 per cent of GDP, far short of the 15 per cent Abuja Declaration target. Out-of-pocket payments remain dangerously high at 71 per cent, he said, a situation that continues to push millions into poverty.
To reverse the trend, Salako announced that the federal government is implementing the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal and Investment Initiative (NHSRII), designed to improve synergy across government, partners and civil society.
He said the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) has recorded significant progress, with utilisation increasing from 45 per cent in 2019 to 78 per cent in 2023.
The minister also disclosed that the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) currently provides health coverage for more than 20 million Nigerians through pooled financing mechanisms.
On human resources, he said over 37,000 health workers have been recruited since 2023, adding that the government is developing a Health Workforce Migration Policy, backed by incentives to retain workers in underserved rural areas.
Salako further announced new initiatives aimed at strengthening service delivery. These include the Nigeria Digital Health Initiative, and the Power for Health Initiative, which seeks to provide steady electricity to health facilities through hybrid and renewable energy systems.
While applauding the strides made so far, he warned that the current pace of improvement is insufficient for the country’s growing population of more than 230 million.
He urged federal, state and local governments, as well as development partners, to deepen collaboration in achieving universal health coverage.
“Only healthy people can produce a prosperous, secure, and great nation. Let us join hands to deliver health to our people and make Nigeria great again,” he said.
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