By Sola Ogundipe & Chioma Obinna

The World Health Organisation, WHO, yesterday, announced the requirement of N816 billion ($5.1 billion) for the annual management and prevention of malaria in Nigeria and other endemic countries even as it launched an emergency response to anti-malarial drug resistance.

Nigeria currently spends N480 billion annually on malaria management, while the country loses N132 billion to the disease annually as a result of absenteeism from work among others.
WHO announced the monetary requirement in its statement to mark the 2014 World Malaria Day, with the theme Invest in the Future: Defeat Malaria.

The body said in total, an estimated US$ 5.1 billion is needed every year between 2011 and 2020 to achieve universal access to malaria prevention, diagnostic testing, and treatment around the world.
It further noted that although many countries had increased domestic financing for malaria control, the total available global funding remained at US$ 2.3 billion in 2011— less than half what is required.