News

Plateau Records Major Decline In Malaria Prevalence -Commissioner

Published

6 months ago

April 26, 2026

By Blessing Odega

The Plateau Commissioner for Health, Dr Nicholas Baamlong, says the state has recorded a significant decline in malaria prevalence.

Baamlong said this on Saturday, at the 2026 World Malaria Day Symposium organised by Malaria Consortium in collaboration with the State Malaria Eradication Programme (SMEP).

He said that based on the Nigeria Malaria Indicator Survey (NMIS), Plateau moved from 18.8 per cent prevalence in 2021 to 2.8 per cent prevalence rate in 2025, which showed a significant decline in malaria cases especially among children aged three to 59 months.

“Data from NMIS shows a dramatic and unprecedented decline in malaria prevalence 0f 18.8 per cent in 2021 (NMIS) to 2.8 per cent in 2025 (NMIS).

“This represents an extraordinary 87 per cent reduction, the highest recorded decline among all states of the Federation and the FCT,” he said.

The commissioner further said that Plateau, in 2024 and 2025, through the State Malaria Elimination Programme (SMEP) with support from Malaria Consortium achieved 100 per cent coverage in its seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC), implementation, which reached one million children aged 3-59 months old .

He said the prophylaxis was administered monthly from June to October during the peak of malaria transmission in over 12,000 communities across 787 catchment health facilities in the 325 wards of the state.

According to him, the act has led to a drastic decrease in the number of children who developed fever in our health facilities due to malaria disease.

Baamlong, said the state ministry of health through the State Malaria Elimination Program and Development partners such as the Global Health Supply Chain-Procurement Supply Management (GHSC-PSM) were supporting 406 facilities with commodities for people to have access to free testing and treatment especially children under five years and pregnant women.

He further said that this act had significantly reduced Child and Maternal Mortality across the state.

Baamlong attributed the state’s success in malaria elimination to strategic planning, strong leadership, effective partnerships and community engagement.

He said for the state to attain a zero malaria status it was pertinent to strengthen community ownership of malaria prevention, ensure consistent use of insecticide-treated nets, promote early testing and prompt treatment.

He further called for expanded preventive therapies for children and pregnant women and the need to invest in new tools, improve data systems and surveillance and increase domestic financing for health.

Similarly, SMEP Programme Manager, Kizito Ndak, explained that the seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention administered to children under five years was aimed at reducing malaria cases among children three to 59 months old especially during the rainy season when prevalence was highest.

Ndak said, “No child under five should die of malaria, as the SMEP in collaboration with Malaria Consortium had prioritised prevention with the deployment of 7,878 community drug distributors across the 325 wards in the state to administer the medication from house-to-house.”

Kizito noted that Plateau emerged first among all Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention implementing states in Nigeria.

He attributed the feat to strong political will, community engagement, and timely government counterpart funding.

Earlier, Dr Maxwell Kolawole, Malaria Consortium’s West and Central Africa Programmes Director, said that no fewer than one million children in Plateau received the free seasonal malaria chemoprevention drugs in 2024 and 2025.

Kolawole, who was represented by Dr Mashor Mbwas, the State Project Manager for Malaria Consortium in Plateau, said children between three months to 59 months of age were given the preventive prophylaxis.

The News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) reports that World Malaria Day is commemorated annually on April 25. (NAN)

Edited by Vivian Ihechu

News

'I will vote for Peter Obi as social media president' – Wike taunts NDC candidate

Published

10 minutes ago

October 25, 2026

PlateauReports

Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Minister Nyesom Wike has taunted the 2027 presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Peter Obi, saying the former Anambra State governor can only win the coming election on social media.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ town hall meeting in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State on Saturday, Wike said he would vote for Obi if the election were to choose a social media president but insisted that the NDC candidate could not govern Nigeria.

“Truly speaking, I give Obi president of social media. If you were voting for the president of social media, I would vote for him,” he said.

Wike also described Obi as a stingy politician whom the country's economy cannot be entrusted to.

DAILY POST reports that the Minister, who is heading the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential campaign in Abuja and Rivers has always criticized Obi and other candidates.

He had also expressed confidence that President Bola Tinubu would be re-elected in the January 16 election, dismissing the chances of the opposition.

‘I will vote for Peter Obi as social media president’ – Wike taunts NDC candidate

News

Injury Heartbreak for Aruna Quadri! Nigerian Star Retires Against Egypt’s Elbeiali in ITTF Africa Championships Round of 16

Published

1 hour ago

October 25, 2026

PlateauReports

Nigeria’s table tennis star Aruna Quadri suffered a heartbreaking exit from the 2026 ITTF Africa Senior Championships in Tangier, Morocco, after an injury forced him to retire during his men’s singles Round of 16 encounter against Egypt’s Mohamed Elbeiali.

Sports247 reports that the highly anticipated contest ended prematurely after Aruna, who had been battling his Egyptian opponent in a closely contested match, became unable to continue despite attempting to play through the discomfort.

The setback brought an unfortunate conclusion to the Nigerian’s campaign, ending his hopes of progressing to the quarterfinals. The encounter had been evenly balanced, with both players winning a game apiece before the injury disrupted proceedings.

With the match tied at 1-1 and the third game locked at 10-10, Aruna experienced physical discomfort that required medical attention. The Nigerian star requested a medical timeout before returning to the table in an attempt to continue the contest.

However, Elbeiali eventually secured the third game to establish a 2-1 advantage. Despite Aruna’s determination to remain competitive, the injury continued to affect his participation.

The Nigerian ultimately retired from the encounter, handing Elbeiali passage into the quarterfinals.

Aruna had entered the Round of 16 following victory over an Angolan opponent, keeping alive his ambition of challenging for another continental title. His meeting with Elbeiali represented an important test against a familiar Egyptian opponent.

However, the injury prevented the Nigerian from completing the contest and competing for a place among the tournament’s final eight players. The retirement was particularly disappointing considering how closely matched both players had been before the interruption.

The setback shifts attention towards Aruna’s recovery, with the extent of the injury yet to be established. For the experienced Nigerian international, regaining full fitness will be essential before returning to competitive action.

Aruna remains one of Nigeria’s most accomplished table tennis players, having represented the country at major international tournaments and established himself among Africa’s leading competitors.

His unexpected withdrawal represents a disappointing development for Nigerian table tennis supporters who had hoped to see him progress further in Tangier.

Although his campaign ended earlier than anticipated, Aruna’s determination to continue after receiving medical attention demonstrated his competitive spirit. The immediate priority will now be his recovery and a safe return to the table.