The World Bank invested about N1.5 billion in the implementation of the IMPACT Malaria Project in Ondo State, according to the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria. IHVN said the intervention contributed to improvements in malaria control, under-five mortality, immunisation coverage and primary healthcare delivery across the state. The institute’s Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director, Dr Charles Mensah, disclosed this in Akure during the close-out ceremony for the project, which was implemented in partnership with the Ondo State Ministry of Health.
Mensah said the World Bank funding was used to provide malaria commodities, train healthcare workers, support logistics and implement other interventions across Ondo State’s 18 local government areas. Although the programme was initially planned to run for a longer period, he said it was completed within a shorter timeframe and achieved all its targets. He attributed the completion of the project to the commitment of the Ondo State Government, alongside technical assistance from the World Bank and the National Malaria Elimination Programme.
“Ondo State is one of the states where we enjoy the highest level of cooperation, from the Governor’s Office to the Commissioner for Health and other officials; the support was exceptional,” Mensah said. He added that the World Bank made a significant financial commitment to the project. “In naira terms, the investment was about N1.5 billion, covering commodities, training of health care workers, logistics and other interventions across the state and local governments,” he said.
World Bank representative Dr Pwanedo Nzomisaki said the project began in Ondo State in 2024 and recorded notable results during its implementation. Citing available statistics, Nzomisaki said malaria prevalence in the state fell from 27 per cent to 13 per cent over the course of the programme. He described the reduction as an important achievement and commended IHVN and the Ondo State Government for their commitment to executing the project.
IHVN Director of Special Projects, Dr Adeorunke Agbaje, also praised the working relationship between the institute and the state government. Agbaje said the collaboration produced improvements in key health indicators and demonstrated the effect of the World Bank-supported intervention.
Ondo State Commissioner for Health, Dr Banji Ajaka, said the programme contributed to a reduction in under-five mortality and strengthened the delivery of primary healthcare services in the state. According to Ajaka, the under-five mortality figure declined from 65 to 15 during the implementation period, while malaria prevalence dropped from 27 per cent to 13 per cent.
He added that 102 primary healthcare facilities were revitalised through the project. Ajaka said routine immunisation coverage also improved significantly under the Immunisation Plus component of the programme. The commissioner thanked the World Bank, IHVN and other development partners for supporting the initiative, saying their intervention strengthened Ondo State’s healthcare system and improved health outcomes.
Awards of excellence were presented during the close-out ceremony to individuals and organisations that contributed to the successful implementation of the project, according to the News Agency of Nigeria. The IMPACT Project is funded by the World Bank and is designed to reduce the burden of malaria, expand immunisation coverage and strengthen primary healthcare services in participating states.