US President’s Malaria Initiative for States (PMI-S) Project
US President’s Malaria Initiative for States (PMI-S) Project


Addressing Malaria During Pregnancy
Malaria is common among pregnant women in Nigeria, which increases the risk of maternal anemia, low birth weight, premature delivery, stillbirth, and death in infants. When first-time mother Mfon became pregnant, she worried about becoming ill with malaria, having known friends who had lost their baby or had a premature birth. She visited a primary health center in Akwa Ibom state, where PMI-S works to maintain a steady supply of medicines for the prevention of malaria and trains health workers to counsel pregnant women on the importance of taking preventive medications during pregnancy and administering the right dosage. Following the advice she received, Mfon delivered a healthy baby without any complications of malaria.
Overview
The US President’s Malaria Initiative for States (PMI-S) project is USAID Nigeria and PMI’s flagship project to reduce malaria mortality and morbidity in Nigeria. The project supports the Government of Nigeria through its agencies at the federal, state, local government area, and community levels to improve the quality of and access to services for the prevention and management of malaria and its complications. PMI-S contributes to the National Malaria Elimination Program’s (NMEP) vision of achieving a malaria-free Nigeria, and to the PMI Strategy 2015–2020 goal to further reduce deaths and decrease morbidity toward the long-term goal of elimination. The goal of PMI-S is to contribute to the reduction of all causes of under-five and maternal mortality by delivering quality services for the management of malaria and its complications and the prevention of malaria during pregnancy.
The four main objectives of PMI-S are to:
- Improve the quality of and access to comprehensive malaria case management services
- Improve evidence for decision-making
- Improve drug-based malaria prevention and treatment approaches
- Strengthen existing health systems and improve NMEP management.
Tackling Gender-based Violence (GBV) Against Women and Girls Is Key to Achieving Universal Health Coverage
US President’s Malaria Initiative for States (PMI-S) Project Factsheet

Uchenna Nwokenna
Country Director
Project Contact
Uchenna Nwokenna, is a public health professional with over 25 years of combined experience in clinical medicine, global public health, surveillance and control of infectious diseases, and supply chain management, pharmaco-epidemiology, drug safety, pharmacovigilance, and regulatory affairs. Nwokenna has extensive experience in public sector health program management, health systems strengthening, and epidemiology in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. Over the years, he has worked with various development partners, such as USAID, UNDP, UNOPS, CDC, UNAIDS, WHO, and The Global Fund on large-scale transformations related to organizational health and operational performance. Prior to joining MSH, he served as the Deputy Regional Program Director on the Regional Action through Data (RAD) project. Nwokenna holds M.Sc. degrees in Health Planning and Management and Environmental Microbiology from the University of Benin, Edo State, and another M.Sc. degree in Epidemiology from the University of London, UK.
Donors & Partners
Donors
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI)
Partners
Banyan Global
ThinkWell
Nigerian Interfaith Action Association