Pandemic preparedness through malaria supply chain integration
1
Independent Researcher, ABUJA, Nigeria
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
the covid-19 pandemic exposed the global fragility of health logistics and underscored the urgent need for flexible, integrated supply chains capable of rapid epidemic response. while nigeria’s malaria logistics system is often cited as a model for large-scale distribution, its ability to withstand acute, climate-induced disruptions remains uncertain. this study examines post-covid malaria supply chain performance in kebbi state, a climate-vulnerable region, to derive operational lessons for integrating epidemic preparedness into routine systems.
METHODS:
a retrospective analysis was conducted using routine malaria data from january 2022 to december 2024 obtained from the district health information system (dhis2) and state logistics management coordination unit (lmcu). confirmed malaria cases and artemisinin-based combination therapy (act) distribution were analysed to assess service continuity during severe environmental stress periods. the july–october flood season, representing a natural stress test, was compared to baseline operational months to quantify supply disruption and treatment gaps.
RESULTS:
analysis revealed a persistently high malaria burden in kebbi state during the post-covid period, with over 836000 confirmed cases recorded between 2022 and 2024. peak transmission occurred in september, with 18793 confirmed cases, coinciding with the 2022 major flood. during this flood period, a critical supply failure rate resulted in an estimated unmet need of 1223 confirmed uncomplicated malaria cases not treated with acts. disruptions in road access and delayed resupply cycles highlighted the system’s limited adaptability to environmental shocks and cross-program integration demands.
CONCLUSIONS:
leveraging malaria logistics for pandemic preparedness requires transitioning from a vertical, disease-specific structure to a “clim-chain” model—one that embeds decentralised, climate-adaptive storage, pre-positioning, and multimodal transport (boats, drones). investment in this resilient logistics infrastructure offers a cost-effective hedge against future climate-health emergencies, providing a blueprint for integrated epidemic preparedness across sub-saharan africa.
the covid-19 pandemic exposed the global fragility of health logistics and underscored the urgent need for flexible, integrated supply chains capable of rapid epidemic response. while nigeria’s malaria logistics system is often cited as a model for large-scale distribution, its ability to withstand acute, climate-induced disruptions remains uncertain. this study examines post-covid malaria supply chain performance in kebbi state, a climate-vulnerable region, to derive operational lessons for integrating epidemic preparedness into routine systems.
METHODS:
a retrospective analysis was conducted using routine malaria data from january 2022 to december 2024 obtained from the district health information system (dhis2) and state logistics management coordination unit (lmcu). confirmed malaria cases and artemisinin-based combination therapy (act) distribution were analysed to assess service continuity during severe environmental stress periods. the july–october flood season, representing a natural stress test, was compared to baseline operational months to quantify supply disruption and treatment gaps.
RESULTS:
analysis revealed a persistently high malaria burden in kebbi state during the post-covid period, with over 836000 confirmed cases recorded between 2022 and 2024. peak transmission occurred in september, with 18793 confirmed cases, coinciding with the 2022 major flood. during this flood period, a critical supply failure rate resulted in an estimated unmet need of 1223 confirmed uncomplicated malaria cases not treated with acts. disruptions in road access and delayed resupply cycles highlighted the system’s limited adaptability to environmental shocks and cross-program integration demands.
CONCLUSIONS:
leveraging malaria logistics for pandemic preparedness requires transitioning from a vertical, disease-specific structure to a “clim-chain” model—one that embeds decentralised, climate-adaptive storage, pre-positioning, and multimodal transport (boats, drones). investment in this resilient logistics infrastructure offers a cost-effective hedge against future climate-health emergencies, providing a blueprint for integrated epidemic preparedness across sub-saharan africa.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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