The Federal Government has begun policy processes for the nationwide rollout of Perennial Malaria Chemoprevention (PMC), a new malaria prevention intervention for infants, following promising results from an implementation study aimed at reducing malaria-related deaths among children under five.

Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, announced the move on Wednesday at the Perennial Malaria Chemoprevention (PMC) Dissemination Meeting in Abuja, where he directed the Department of Public Health (DPH) and the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) to commence policy work that will support the large-scale introduction of the intervention.

Salako said the decision was informed by encouraging findings from the implementation research, while noting that government would also assess the cost-effectiveness of the intervention before full-scale adoption.

“Let me appreciate the team that was on the field to conduct this study that is showing very promising outcomes. As government, we would also like to see the cost-effectiveness of the intervention, which is equally important. In the interim, let me direct the Department of Public Health and the National Malaria Elimination Programme to work towards the policy enablement that will introduce PMC on a larger scale in our arsenal for eliminating malaria from our country,” he said.

The minister described the dissemination meeting as a major milestone in Nigeria’s search for innovative, evidence-based strategies to eliminate malaria.

He recalled that the implementation research began in 2023 after it was included in the National Malaria Strategic Plan 2021-2025.

According to him, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, through the NMEP, prioritised the pilot of Perennial Malaria Chemoprevention—formerly known as Intermittent Preventive Treatment in Infants—to generate evidence for its adoption in states that are not eligible for Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention.

The intervention targets children under 24 months living in areas with year-round malaria transmission, particularly in southern Nigeria.

“This initiative sought to generate evidence to inform policy adoption for an intervention that would help protect children under 24 months in regions with perennial malaria transmission,” Salako said.

He noted that the intervention aligns with the World Health Organization’s recommendation for malaria-endemic countries to complement existing malaria control measures, including vector control, prompt diagnosis and treatment, surveillance and preventive interventions.

The minister explained that the research was designed to demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of implementing PMC in Nigeria and provide evidence to support its adoption as a targeted sub-national strategy for reducing the country’s malaria burden.

Despite improvements in malaria control, Salako said Nigeria still bears the world’s largest malaria burden.

He disclosed that the 2025 Nigeria Malaria Indicator Survey showed malaria prevalence had declined steadily from 42 per cent in 2010 to 15 per cent in 2025.

However, he said the 2025 World Malaria Report indicated that Nigeria still accounts for 24.3 per cent of global malaria cases and 30.3 per cent of malaria-related deaths.

“Though this progress is commendable, the urgency of this moment cannot be overstated,” he said.

Salako said the meeting would enable stakeholders to review the research findings and determine the best approach for scaling up PMC to reduce under-five mortality.

He added that the intervention would also promote equity in Nigeria’s malaria control efforts, noting that while Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention has saved thousands of children in northern Nigeria, PMC offers similar protection for children living in southern states where malaria transmission is perennial.

Reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to malaria elimination, the minister said the Ministry would continue implementing the National Malaria Strategic Plan 2026-2030 through stronger health systems, integrated service delivery and efficient use of resources.

“The adoption of PMC is among the bold steps we are prepared to take based on the evidence to be provided today,” he said.

Salako also reaffirmed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s public health response and prioritising malaria elimination.

“Eliminating malaria and related diseases remains firmly at the centre of this commitment, not as a slogan but as a strategic priority. Together, with commitment and partnership, we will change the story. Together, we will drive down the burden of malaria. And together, we will move decisively toward a malaria-free Nigeria,” he said.

The minister commended the Gates Foundation, Malaria Consortium, collaborating federal agencies, state governments and frontline health workers for supporting the implementation research and advancing Nigeria’s malaria elimination agenda. (Nigerian Tribune)