Nigeria Urged to Empower Youth as Malaria Burden Persists Despite Global Summits
Despite hosting the world’s largest malaria summits in 2000 and 2023, Nigeria remains heavily burdened by the disease, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, has lamented.
Speaking at the official launch of the Geneith Health Competition, a new initiative designed to mobilize secondary school students and undergraduates in grassroots malaria advocacy. Pate emphasized the need for renewed action. Represented by the Director of Public Health, Dr. Godwin Ntadom, he expressed concern over the stubborn prevalence of malaria, despite substantial government investments over the years.
Describing the competition as a “timely and strategic intervention,” Pate praised Geneith Pharmaceuticals, CEOAFRICA, and Coastal Forte Softgel for partnering on the initiative. He explained that the program targets junior and senior secondary school students as well as undergraduates, engaging them through health education, community outreach, and project development aimed at reducing malaria cases and deaths nationwide.
“Despite hosting landmark malaria summits, Nigeria still bears the world’s highest malaria burden. It’s time to shift from talk to action by empowering our youth to lead the charge,” Pate declared.
Other speakers echoed similar views, stressing the critical role of youth in public health. Mr. Umenwa Emmanuel noted that Nigeria accounted for 27% of global malaria cases and 31% of malaria deaths in 2022.
“This is more than a campaign; it’s a call to reimagine our fight against malaria by equipping young Nigerians to advocate, innovate, and drive behavioural change. Malaria must now be treated as a national emergency,” Emmanuel urged.
Prince Cletus Ilobanafor also underscored the pivotal role of youth: “This is not just a competition; it’s a movement. The future of public health lies with these students, they must own this fight if we are to win it.”
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