Dr Yakubu Baba, registrar of the Environmental Health Council of Nigeria, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Wednesday that the nation shells out an estimated N3.75 trillion every year on malaria treatment, a cost he described as a de‑facto tax on every citizen.
How much does malaria cost Nigerians?
With a population exceeding 250 million and each person contracting malaria at least two to three times annually, the average treatment expense of N5,000 per episode translates to about N15,000 per person per year. Multiplying N15,000 by 250 million yields the N3.75 trillion figure cited by Baba.
What is the impact on health outcomes?
Baba warned that the high spending reflects not only a financial strain but also contributes to elevated morbidity and mortality, especially among children under five. He emphasized that effective disease control must target the vectors that spread malaria, noting, “According to epidemiology, if a disease is caused by a vector, eliminating the disease requires targeting the vector.”
Why are sanitation and water quality concerns linked to disease?
The registrar highlighted that poor sanitation and open defecation fuel recurring cholera outbreaks. During rainy periods, human waste is washed into streams and other water bodies, contaminating the water and vegetables that residents consume. He illustrated the risk by saying, “Even those that think they are in the city, your vegetables and tomatoes are coming from that river. If they are not washed well, cholera does not segregate between rich and poor.”
What about the focus on tertiary health facilities?
Baba expressed unease over the government's emphasis on building teaching hospitals, specialist hospitals and Federal Medical Centres while neglecting primary‑level preventive services. He noted that bills to upgrade tertiary institutions are common in the National Assembly, yet funding for health posts that deliver preventive care remains scarce.
How safe is bottled water in Nigeria?
During a recent engagement with the World Health Organization, EHCON tested three popular bottled‑water brands. All three samples showed the presence of E. coli, with only one meeting the required safety standard, underscoring that urban dwellers are also exposed to environmental health hazards.
What powers do environmental health officers have?
Under the [Public Health Law](https://www.nigeria- law.org/PublicHealthLaw.htm), environmental health officers can enter premises without a warrant for inspection and are authorized to make arrests to enforce public health regulations. Baba urged state and federal governments to recruit more officers and assign them clear jurisdictions to improve sanitation monitoring and enforcement.
What is the way forward?
Baba concluded that strengthening public and environmental health services, coupled with robust vector‑control and sanitation programmes, would dramatically lower the incidence of preventable diseases and ease the economic burden that malaria currently imposes on Nigerian households.