The Excellence Community Education Welfare Scheme has provided health insurance coverage for 1,000 pregnant women in Enugu State.

The announcement was made on Thursday during the 2026 World Malaria Day commemoration in Enugu, themed “Driven to End Malaria: Now We Can. Now We Must.”

The initiative ’s part of a broader effort involving the Enugu State Government, the Federal Ministry of Health, and international partners such as Jhpiego and the World Health Organisation to transition from malaria containment to elimination.

Speaking at the event, the Chief Executive Officer of ECEWS, Dr Andy Eyo, said the organisation is working to remove financial barriers preventing pregnant women from accessing care.

“Our board and management have approved the provision of health insurance for 1,000 pregnant women in Enugu State. These women will have their premiums paid to the state universal health coverage agency, allowing them to receive antenatal care and deliver free of charge at hospitals,” Eyo said.

He added that the initiative would also ensure beneficiaries participate in Malaria in Pregnancy services.

He noted that the state recorded a decline in malaria prevalence from 24.5 per cent to nine per cent.

A key component of the event was the STOP-AMDR (Scaling the Optimal Use of Multiple ACTs to Prevent Antimalarial Drug Resistance) project.

The Country Project Manager for Jhpiego, Dr Bright Orji, said Nigeria is taking steps to prevent antimalarial drug resistance reported in some African countries.

“Nigeria contributes about 24 per cent of global malaria deaths and 38 per cent of deaths among children under five. Drug resistance could worsen the situation,” Orji said.

He explained that under the STOP-AMDR project, Nigeria is piloting Multiple First-Line Therapies in Enugu and Kwara states.

The approach involves the use of different effective Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies simultaneously to reduce pressure on parasites and sustain treatment effectiveness.

Orji also said the malaria vaccine is being introduced into the country’s immunisation programme, targeting children under five, with phased rollout across selected states.

The state Commissioner for Health , Prof George Ugwu, said the state’s malaria prevalence rate of nine per cent is lower than the national average of 15.2 per cent.

He attributed this to free testing and treatment in 527 health facilities across the state.

“We are providing free malaria testing and treatment in public facilities, primary healthcare centres, and selected private facilities. We have also intensified awareness because not every fever is malaria,” Ugwu said.

He added that the state’s response includes collaboration with the Ministry of Environment on sanitation and the Ministry of Agriculture on nutrition.

He also disclosed that the Mayor of Enugu East had provided insurance for 5,000 vulnerable children.

A representative of the World Health Organisation, Dr Adaeze Ugwu, said efforts to eliminate malaria require sustained commitment, noting that funding gaps and climate factors remain challenges.

She reaffirmed the organisation’s support for strengthening primary healthcare systems in the state.

The event highlighted ongoing efforts to reduce malaria prevalence, with stakeholders expressing the goal of lowering the rate to below five per cent in the coming years. (The PUNCH)

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