Plateau State has reduced its malaria prevalence from 18.8 per cent in 2021 to 2.8 per cent in 2025, according to the Nigeria Malaria Indicator Survey. Health Commissioner Dr Nicholas Baamlong disclosed this at the 2026 World Malaria Day Symposium organised by Malaria Consortium and the State Malaria Eradication Programme (SMEP). He described the 87 per cent reduction as the highest decline recorded among all states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Between 2024 and 2025, Plateau achieved 100 per cent coverage in seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC), reaching one million children aged 3 to 59 months. The prophylaxis was administered monthly from June to October in over 12,000 communities through 787 health facilities across 325 wards. Baamlong credited the progress to strategic planning, leadership, partnerships, and community engagement.
He said 406 health facilities now provide free malaria testing and treatment, supported by the GHSC-PSM and other partners, contributing to lower child and maternal mortality. Baamlong urged sustained use of insecticide-treated nets, early testing, and increased domestic funding for health. SMEP Programme Manager Kizito Ndak said Plateau led all SMC-implementing states, with 7,878 community drug distributors delivering medication house-to-house. Malaria Consortium's Dr Maxwell Kolawole, represented by Dr Mashor Mbwas, confirmed over one million children received the drugs in 2024 and 2025.
Dr Nicholas Baamlong claims an 87 per cent drop in malaria cases, yet provides no independent verification beyond government-affiliated surveys. If the data is accurate, children in Plateau are far safer from malaria today than just four years ago. But with success tied to donor-supported programmes and seasonal interventions, the sustainability of this decline remains unproven. The absence of third-party validation leaves room for doubt about the true scale of progress.
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