The Ebonyi State Government has launched a comprehensive training program for newly recruited doctors, nurses, and pharmacists to enhance malaria diagnosis, treatment, and case reporting across health facilities in the state.
Addressing journalists in Abakaliki during the 2025 World Malaria Day event, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Moses Ekuma, emphasized the government’s continuous efforts to improve healthcare services, particularly in malaria control. Represented by the Director of Public Health and Disease Control, Dr. Hycient Ebenyi, Dr. Ekuma noted that Ebonyi State, in partnership with the President’s Malaria Initiative, distributed 1.5 million insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) in 2015, 1,901,912 ITNs in 2019, and 1,942,167 ITNs in 2023.
Dr. Ekuma lamented the devastating impact of malaria, which causes approximately 350,000 deaths annually in Sub-Saharan Africa, and remains a major public health concern in Ebonyi State. He stressed that the theme of the 2025 World Malaria Day, “Malaria Ends With Us: Reinvest, Reimagine, Reignite,” underscores the urgent need for collective action by malaria-endemic and malaria-free countries, as well as for increased support from new donors to strengthen global malaria control efforts.
Highlighting the state’s contributions to malaria prevention, Dr. Ekuma said:”The government is committed to building the capacity of healthcare workers by training newly employed doctors, nurses, and pharmacists to enhance malaria diagnosis, treatment, and reporting within our hospitals.”
He further disclosed that malaria accounts for over 60% of hospital visits in the state and remains a leading cause of illness, especially among pregnant women and children under five years old.
Citing recent data from the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Ekuma revealed that mosquito-borne diseases claim more than one million lives each year and result in an estimated 300 to 500 million acute malaria cases annually.
Also speaking at the event, Mr. John Nkwuda, the State Malaria Elimination Programme Manager, expressed satisfaction with the high level of community participation during the World Malaria Day activities. He reaffirmed the program’s vision to achieve a malaria-free Ebonyi State, describing malaria as a “silent killer” that affects individuals of all age groups.
