By Zainab Oyekan
Plateau Commissioner for Health, Dr Nicholas Ba’amlong, has called on stakeholders in the health sector to strengthen partnership to achieve health targets like decreasing malaria and improving immunisation coverage.
He said this on Monday in Jos during a news conference to mark the World Malaria Day 2025, African Vaccination Week, and National Immunization Plus Days.
According to him, Plateau has witnessed a significant progress in malaria control, dropping from 35.8 per cent in 2015 to 18.8 per cent in 2021 through government programmes and partner support.
He said that the government efforts with support from development partners like WHO, and Malaria Consortium, had culminated in a decline in malaria prevalence.
The commissioner further said that with sustainable collaboration between development partners, communities and healthcare workers, the country would meet its health targets.
Ba’amlong listed the emerging challenges in the fight against malaria to include drug-resistant malaria, urban transmission and lack of new tools on malaria vaccines introduced to Nigeria.
“Together, we can end malaria and ensure every child receives life-saving vaccines.
“Our collective action today secures a healthier tomorrow,” he said. NAN
