Jos – Malaria Consortium has expanded its partnership with the Plateau State Government to support routine childhood immunisation following the State’s success in reducing malaria prevalence.

The announcement was made on Tuesday during the flag-off of the 2026 Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) campaign in Jos, the State capital.

The Wife of the State Governor, Mrs Helen Mutfwang, said the expanded collaboration would commence in Pankshin, Kanke and Langtang North Local Government Areas where immunisation coverage gaps have been identified.

She said, “The success of Plateau State in malaria control has attracted greater confidence from our development partners.

“In recognition of the outstanding results achieved through our partnership, Malaria Consortium has expanded its collaboration with the Plateau State Government beyond malaria control to support improved routine immunisation uptake among our children.”

She explained that malaria remains one of the leading causes of illness and death among children under five years old despite being preventable and treatable but the commitment of all stakeholders ensures significant progress is being made to overcome it.

She expressed delight that the State has recorded one of the most remarkable reductions in malaria prevalence in Nigeria, declining from 18.8% in 2021 to 2.8% in 2025 saying the achievement demonstrates that with strong leadership, effective partnership and community participation, malaria can be defeated.

Also speaking, Dr Mbwas Mashor, the State Programme Manager, Malaria Consortium said the 2026 campaign aims to reach 1,007,560 eligible children across Plateau State.

He noted that Malaria remains a huge public health problem, with the lives of 3.2 billion people worldwide under threat due to it, even though it is both preventable and treatable.

He added that despite the successes that have been recorded in over two decades with 2.3 billion cases and 14 million deaths averted, 47 countries certified malaria-free and 37 countries reporting less than 1,000 cases in 2024.

His words, “Malaria claims an estimated 1 life every minute, with majority of deaths occurring in sub-Saharan Africa. Children under five years of age and pregnant women are especially susceptible to malaria. In 2024, Nigeria recorded 68.47 million malaria cases, the highest burden globally, representing 24.3 percent of all cases.

“The country also accounted for 38.6 percent of global malaria deaths among children under five. There is no better time than now for us all to recommit to ending malaria, especially in the face of prevailing conflicts, humanitarian emergencies, climate change and funding constraints.

“We all must collectively support nationally led programmes that drive change and are tailored to local needs, empower communities to take control of their health, invest in research and development and identify new and sustainable funding sources.”

The Programme Manager, State Malaria Elimination Programme, Nurse Kizito Ndak disclosed that SMC has been implemented in Plateau State since 2021 with the goal of reducing malaria cases among children under five years of age.

He assured that efforts will continue to be sustained with relevant stakeholders to eradicate malaria in the State.

Earlier, the State Commissioner of Health, Dr Nicholas Ba’amlong, the Executive Secretary of the State Primary Healthcare Board, Dr Raymond Juryit, the representative of the World Health Organisation, WHO, Dr Mahdi Musa, and others commended the initiative and asked that achievements be sustained.