The Enugu State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to fighting malaria through strategic interventions, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. George Ugwu, said.
Ugwu spoke on Tuesday in Enugu while briefing reporters as part of activities marking World Malaria Day (WMD), organised by the state Health Ministry and its partners.
He noted that the state government has introduced free diagnostics, treatment, preventive tools, and expanded community-based programmes to tackle malaria.
“This year’s theme, ‘Driven to End Malaria: Now We Can. Now We Must,’ captures the moment perfectly. For the first time in history, the tools, science, and strategies to eliminate malaria are within our reach in the state. We have the capacity, vaccines, diagnostics, and proven interventions to make elimination possible. We must act decisively to prevent resurgence, because malaria does not wait. When interventions slow, malaria resurges rapidly and lives are lost,” he said.
The commissioner added that Gov. Peter Mbah has made malaria elimination a health priority, expanding free malaria testing and treatment across over 500 health facilities.
He highlighted efforts to ensure equitable access to rapid diagnostic testing and multiple first-line therapies while integrating malaria services into primary healthcare to meet broader health needs.
“This year, our commemoration goes beyond awareness. We are enrolling 1,000 pregnant women into the State Health Insurance Scheme to protect mothers and babies. We are also recognising outstanding health workers for their dedication to malaria elimination and engaging communities through sensitisation and medical outreach,” Ugwu said.
He appreciated health partners – ECEWS, Shpiego, WHO, UNICEF, and media organisations – for their unwavering support in the fight against malaria.
Earlier, the Programme Coordinator of the State Malaria Elimination Programme, Dr. Ifeoma Otiji, urged stakeholders and partners to renew their commitment to malaria elimination in Enugu. She encouraged residents to take advantage of ongoing free malaria testing and treatment, emphasising that not all fever is malaria.
Otiji added that individuals must also take preventive measures, such as sleeping under insecticide-treated nets, using indoor residual spraying, eliminating stagnant water, seeking early testing, and completing treatment.
The state health ministry, its stakeholders, and partners previously conducted a roadshow to commemorate the day, distributing fliers to the public about free malaria testing and treatment in health facilities.
