The Enugu State government has tasked its partners on achieving a new target of below five percent prevalence rate of malaria parasite on the ongoing state malaria elimination programme.
Commissioner for Health, Prof. George Ugwu, gave the new target in Enugu during a press briefing to mark the 2026 World Malaria Day (WMD) on Wednesday.
Prof. Ugwu noted that the remarkable reduction in malaria parasite prevalence to 9.9 per cent in 2025 in the state remained laudable, adding: “There is room for further action and reduction to below five per cent in years to come.”
He said that malaria, one of the deadliest parasitic diseases, remained a severe public health challenge in the state and leading cause of illness and death, particularly among children under five and pregnant women.
According to him, faced with this reality, Enugu State has demonstrated commitment to the malaria fight through strategic interventions including free diagnostics, treatment, prevention tools, and expanded community-based programmes.
“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.
“Now, we can. We have the capacity, vaccines, diagnostics, and proven interventions to make elimination possible.
“Now we must. 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 said that Governor Peter Mbah had made malaria elimination a health priority, adding that the state had expanded its free malaria testing and treatment across over 500 health facilities.
He noted that the ministry had ensured equitable access to rapid diagnostic testing and multiple first line therapies, while integrating malaria services into primary health care 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 protect mothers and babies.
“We are also recognising outstanding health workers who have shown exceptional dedication to malaria elimination as well as engaging communities through sensitisation and medical outreach,” he added.
The commissioner appreciated health partners – ECEWS, Shpiego, WHO, UNICEF and media organizations for their unwavering support in the fight against malaria.
Earlier, the Programme Coordinator, State Malaria Elimination Programme, Dr. Ifeoma Otiji, called on stakeholders and partners to renew their commitment to malaria elimination in the state.
Otiji called on all to take advantage of the ongoing free malaria testing and treatment in the state, adding that testing is necessary as not all fever is malaria.
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She said that individuals have a role to play, by sleeping under insecticide-treated nets and using indoor residual spraying.
The programme coordinator noted that residents should eliminate stagnant water within our environment, seek early testing and completing treatment, adding that every effort counts and brings us closer to a malaria-free state.
The state Health Ministry, its stakeholders and partners had earlier conducted a roadshow to commemorate the Day and distributed fliers to members of the public with the message of free malaria testing and treatment in health facilities.
