Background to the Project
Malaria is responsible for 30% of under 5 child mortality and 11% of maternal deaths in Nigeria. Over 60% of hospital visits are due to malaria. Annually, more than 50% of Nigeria's 140 million people suffer at least one episode of malaria. The malaria toll is highest amongst vulnerable groups; most notably under fives, pregnant women and the elderly. The annual economic loss to the Nigerian economy due to malaria is in excess of one billion US dollars.
Nigeria's government demonstrated their political will to fight against malaria by hosting the ‘African Heads of States Summit on Malaria' in 2000 wherein the ‘Abuja Declaration and Targets' emerged.
A follow-up summit took place in May 2006. A number of initiatives, including the annual Africa Malaria Day celebrations, were implemented to roll back malaria in Nigeria.
In spite of these advances coverage levels for key interventions were still low. This was due to the low level of involvement of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs); the low degree of community mobilization, participation and ownership; and the lack of capacity of many CSOs to effectively participate. CSOs include non-governmental organizations (NGOs), faith based organizations (FBOs), the media and community based organizations (CBOs).
