The Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, yesterday, said about 116 million people from four African countries, including Nigeria and four other countries were currently suffering from malaria.
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The figure accounted for 47 percent of global burden arising from the disease. Chukwu called for intensified efforts to rid the continent of the disease.
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The others include the Democratic Republic Congo, DRC, Ethiopia, Tanzania and Kenya.
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This was even as the United Nations Children's Fund, UNICEF, has said treated nets were key to the reduction in malaria-induced deaths and illnesses.
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The Better Society Foundation, TBSF, an international Non-Governmental Organisation said about "$4.4 billion (about N620 billion) has been mobilised from international partners and African governments to make vital interventions in the fight against the eradication of the disease in Africa over the next three years, adding that additional $ 3.6 billion (about N55.6billion) was needed in funding the project from 2013 to 2015 in Nigeria.
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At a media parley to commemorate the World Malaria Day, the Executive Director, TBSF, Mr Ade Dare, said,"It is critically important that we stay on course. Malaria resurgence will remain a persistent threat until the disease is eradicated altogether.
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We need to keep up the momentum but more importantly hold the gains. With sustained funding rapid progress towards ending malaria deaths can continue, but without it, gains could be quickly reversed putting millions of lives at risk".
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Speaking to commemorate the World Malaria Day at the African Union Conference of Health Ministers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Chukwu said various strategies were being implemented in the control of the disease, adding that there was need to move on to elimination and ultimately eradication stages.
Malaria has to cease to exist in this country. That is what so many citizens alaways pray about. We hope it happens someday