Health Outcome and Economic Growth: The Case of Malaria in Nigeria

Abstract

This inquiry delved into the intricate interplay between health outcomes and economic growth, with a specific focus on the impact of malaria in Nigeria. This research endeavours to delve into the profound intricacies inherent in the interconnection between health outcomes and economic growth. The multifaceted exploration entails a meticulous scrutiny of pivotal determinants, encompassing the intricate tapestry of current health expenditure, gross capital formation, the prevalence of malaria in Nigeria, secondary school enrolment (spanning post-primary and secondary education), and the discerning trajectory of real gross domestic product, serving as an illuminating proxy for the profound dynamics governing economic growth. Econometric analysis is employed to investigate the study using an autoregressive distributed lagged model (ARDL). The findings show that current health expenditure has an inverse relationship with economic growth in Nigeria. Meanwhile, gross capital formation and secondary school enrolment, parameters used, showed a positive influence on economic growth in Nigeria. Thus, the policy proffered is that the federal government should invest deliberately in the health sector. There may be a need to double government expenditure in the health sector with a view to making the people have access to a quality healthcare system at a very cheap and affordable rate and also making social services such as education free from the primary to secondary level.