Nigeria Joins Rest Of The World To Mark World Malaria Day

[FMHNigeria]

Nigeria has joined the rest of the world to commemorate the 2013 World Malaria Day.The African Summit on Roll Back Malaria was held on the 25th April, 2000 in Abuja and its declaration was signed by all Heads of States.

 

This meeting committed them to an intensive effort to halve the malaria mortality in Africa through implementation of strategies and activities agreed upon at the summit.

To highlight the gravity of malaria situation in the continent, the leaders at this summit also took the decision that 25th April of each year be commemorated as Africa Malaria Day now World Malaria Day(WMD) with effect from 2009.

In Nigeria, the (WMD) celebration is normally carried out at both the Federal and State levels with series of activities to include among others advocacy visits and sensitization, rally, town hall meeting, press briefing and a host of others are all part of the activities carried out in order to create awareness and draw attention to the burden of malaria in Nigeria.

This was contained in a statement jointly signed by Sir Patrick Ikemefuna, Chairman World Malaria Day (WMD) Organizing committee and Dr. Nnnena Ezeigwe, National Coordinator, National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP).

The objective of the WMD is to remind all the stakeholders of their commitment to the Abuja declaration; to encourage inter-Sectoral collaboration for malaria control and to mobilize support.

The theme for the 2013 World Malaria Day is "Invest in the Future: Defeat Malaria" and the slogan: "Time is Now".

Sustaining malaria control efforts is an investment in development towards near-zero deaths by 2015 and achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

The statement further stated that the celebration provides an opportunity for all stakeholders to showcase the achievements recorded in the past years and to chart the course for the period beyond Abuja targets.

Plans for the 2013 National World Malaria Day celebration begin from April, 2013 and will be sustained throughout the year. It is aimed at increasing publicity and mobilizing the entire Nigerian population on the availability and access to commodities for prevention and appropriate treatment for malaria.

Via: Federal Ministry of Health (FMH) Nigeria