Malaria Kills 9 Nigerians Hourly | SFH Distributes Nets & SPAQ in Kano

 The fight against malaria in Nigeria has taken a renewed turn, as the Society for Family Health (SFH) revealed that the disease continues to claim nine Nigerian lives every hour, with children under five and pregnant women being the most vulnerable.

Speaking during a media orientation in Kano, Sesugh Deborah Oryiman, the SFH’s Social and Behavioural Change Specialist, highlighted the grave burden of malaria on Nigerians, stating that 97% of the population is affected by the disease.

“Malaria is Nigeria’s most common, yet most preventable public health problem,” Oryiman said. “Nigeria accounts for nearly 110 million clinically diagnosed cases of malaria annually, and contributes to 25% of the global malaria burden.”

According to SFH, the disease is responsible for 30% of child deaths and 11% of maternal deaths in Nigeria annually. In West Africa, 2 out of every 4 people with malaria reside in Nigeria, making it the epicenter of the region’s malaria crisis.

In a bold move to curb these statistics, SFH is spearheading a statewide campaign in Kano State to distribute 7.7 million insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) and administer over 15 million doses of Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) drugs—specifically SPAQ—to children aged 3 to 59 months.

The campaign will prioritize local government areas and wards with the highest prevalence of malaria, ensuring that the most vulnerable communities receive adequate protection.

Beyond the tragic loss of life, malaria also has a crippling economic impact. It remains the leading cause of absenteeism in schools, workplaces, farms, and markets, reducing national productivity. SFH estimates that malaria drains the Nigerian economy, reducing the GDP by 40% annually due to treatment costs, prevention efforts, and lost labor.

Despite rising malaria cases, there’s some progress: national malaria prevalence has dropped from 27% in 2015 to 22% in 2021, based on microscopy testing. But much work remains.

“Malaria can be prevented by simply ensuring mosquitoes don’t bite us. Sleeping inside a treated net every night remains the most cost-effective method of protection,” Oryiman emphasized.

With this new SFH initiative, communities across Kano and beyond may begin to experience a significant decline in malaria-related deaths and illness—especially among children. The success of this program, however, lies not just in distribution, but in consistent and correct use of these life-saving interventions.