By Asmau Ahmad
The Federal Ministry of Health has launched the Malaria Modelling Programme to achieve zero malaria prevalence by 2025.
Launching the programme on Monday in Abuja, Dr Perpetua Uhomoibhi, National Coordinator, National Malaria Elimination Programme in the ministry expressed the importance of eliminating malaria with data by 2025.
Malaria Modelling Programme is the sourcing and use of data to reduce or eliminate malaria.
The programme is being organised by Corona Management System and it entails training of persons on malaria data.
Uhomoibhi, who affirmed the high burden of malaria in Nigeria, called for collective commitment of all towards a zero-malaria prevalence in the country.
She expressed the commitment of the federal government to eliminating malaria with quality data necessary for tracking and prevention.
The national coordinator reiterated the determination of the federal government to end malaria by 2025.
Mrs Chinwe Ochu, Director, Research and Planning, National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) described the modelling programme as a pre-elimination stage for achieving zero malaria prevalence.
Ochu explained that it was the commencement of preventive interventions for malaria.
She said that malaria like any other disease required data to actually tackle it squarely.
Earlier, Dr Kesiye Leghemo, member, Corona Management System, congratulated the participants in the programme and other stakeholders for making the programme realisable.
Leghemo said that the participants in the programme were made up of representation from the six geopolitical zones.
Prof. Emmanuel Bakari, appealed to the participants to use the opportunity to equip themselves with skills of malaria modelling necessary for fighting the disease.
Dr Ismaila Raji said that the programme was key to reducing the burden of malaria with accurate data.
Raji, who said the prevalence of malaria in Nigeria, ranged from 20 to 50 per cent depending on the area, adding that it was time to tackle it.
