Aribodor D. N.^1,, Ugwuanyi I. K.¹, Aribodor O. B.²

Malaria remains the most important public health parasitic disease and a major global health problem with the greatest burden in sub-Saharan Africa. Over 90% of all malaria deaths still occur in Africa where it kills over half a million children less than 5 years of age each year. Nigeria accounts for 25 percent of the world’s malaria burden. Apart from the health burden, the socio-economic consequences of malaria are enormous such that it was part of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Following the end of MDG target to halt and reverse the incidence of malaria by 2015 which was considered a success, a new global target has been set. The new global strategy aims to reduce the global disease burden of malaria by 40% by 2020, and by at least 90% by 2030. It also aims to eliminate malaria in at least 35 new countries by 2030. Nigeria remains endemic for malaria and has the ambition to eliminate malaria. There are however challenges to confront in order to make the desired progress. Drug resistance, treatment failure, insecticide resistance, global warming and change in climate, conflicts, insurgency, and internally displaced persons, migration, lack of political will, inadequate malaria leadership, funding, and adequate local research constitute the challenges. Addressing these challenges is central to achieving malaria elimination.

malaria, elimination, challenges, Nigeria