Alhaji Issa Kayode, the state Commissioner for Health, made the disclosure in Ilorin while speaking at a ceremony marking the 2014 World Malaria Day.

Kayode said that the money would be spent on anti malaria drugs, Rapid Diagnostic Test Kits and other preventive measures.

“The Kwara government had spent huge amount of money to buy mosquito nets, drugs and RDTK with a dual launching of ‘malaria free’ programme to fight the disease,” he said.

The commissioner said that malaria treatment for pregnant women and children within five years of age was free.

He reiterated that anti malaria drugs were distributed across the state in March 2013 for the continuity of ‘malaria free’ programme.

According to Kayode, the World malaria Day was instituted by the World Health Assembly at its 60th session in 2007.

Kayode said the aim of the programme was to create awareness about the disease and the resulting devastation to over three billion people globally.

He said: “The day provides an opportunity for the global development partners and communities to intensify efforts aimed at providing access to affordable, safe and effective anti-malarial interventions for all population.

“It also reminds stakeholders of their commitment and support for the prevention of malaria in the state and encourage inter-sectoral collaboration for malaria control.”

The theme for the 2014 World Malaria Day is: “Invest in the Future; Defeat Malaria,” while the slogan was: “Together We Can.’’

Falana Martin, the Executive Director of Kids and Teens Resource Centre, an NGO dedicated to children’s health, pledged to complement government’s efforts in the campaign against malaria.

Martic said that the organisation was closer to the grassroots and would use the opportunity to sensitise the public on the collective responsibility of fighting the disease.

Martin urged members of the public to always embrace environmental sanitation to prevent breeding of mosquitoes.

He also called for the use of long lasting insecticide treated nets and intermittent preventive treatment to reduce malaria attack during pregnancy.

The NGO in collaboration with the Ministry of Health had embarked on a sensitisation campaign round Ilorin metropolis.