Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua on Thursday said that the country is committed to eradicating malaria and ensuring its Roll Back Malaria program is successful, the
Daily Independent reports. Yar'Adua was speaking at an event to welcome United Nations' special envoy for malaria Ray Chambers to Nigeria's capital of Abuja.

Yar'Adua said that he is optimistic that initiatives aimed at controlling malaria, which include the distribution of insecticide-treated nets, will lead to a permanent solution to the disease. He added that child and maternal mortality from malaria is negatively affecting Nigeria's economic growth. In addition, Yar'Adua said he supports U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's call for the establishment of a Coalition of African Leaders Against Malaria, adding that Africa must increase efforts to fight malaria on the continent.

RBM's program in Nigeria is "extremely important" to the country, Yar'Adua said, adding that the "whole of Africa will benefit" if it is successful. The Nigerian government and health sector "will continue to advocate and put in place measures and strategies for the distribution and use of [ITNs], particularly in the rural areas," Yar'Adua said (Chesa, Daily Independent, 12/4).