Reducing Malaria-Related Under-Five Mortality in Nigeria Through Scalable Prevention and Treatment Strategies

Malaria remains a major health challenge in Nigeria, particularly among children under five years of age. Although efforts to control the disease have expanded, important implementation challenges remain. This editorial reviews the major drivers of under-five mortality due to malaria, including low coverage of malaria prevention interventions, poor access to prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment, and persistent socioeconomic and health system challenges. It also identifies gaps in health services, the supply chain, and human resources that hamper the implementation of current malaria control strategies. The editorial recommends three feasible and scalable interventions: scaling up seasonal malaria chemoprevention, integrating malaria vaccination into routine childhood immunization services, and improving community-based case management. These recommendations aim to complement the current health system and improve access to effective malaria prevention and treatment. Their implementation could reduce malaria-related deaths among children under five and contribute to Nigeria's progress toward malaria control and elimination.