The Lagos State government has unveiled an ambitious initiative, the ‘Pathway to Malaria Pre-Elimination & Digitisation Programme’, aimed at eradicating malaria in the state. The program seeks to reduce malaria prevalence to below one percent by leveraging digital technology, strengthening case management, and expanding public-private partnerships.
At a press briefing on Monday, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, emphasized that the initiative marks a critical step toward eliminating malaria in Lagos. He noted that while the state already leads the way with a malaria prevalence of under 3%—significantly lower than the national average—there is still much work to be done.
“Lagos is already leading the way with a malaria prevalence of under 3%, far below the national average. With this initiative, we are taking decisive steps to eliminate malaria and ensure that every fever is properly diagnosed and treated using a scientific and digitalized approach,” Abayomi stated.
Despite its relatively low prevalence, Lagos records an estimated 900,000 malaria cases annually, with febrile illnesses presumed to be malaria accounting for over 50% of general outpatient visits in public health facilities. The economic impact of malaria is substantial, leading to absenteeism from work and school, decreased productivity, and increased healthcare costs for households.
“Malaria is not just a health issue; it is a social and economic problem. The cost of treating malaria, combined with the indirect costs of lost productivity, runs into billions of naira annually. A malaria-free Lagos is a stronger, more prosperous Lagos,” Abayomi added.
Key Components of the Initiative
The ‘Pathway to Malaria Pre-Elimination and Digitisation Programme’ will integrate digital health solutions to enhance malaria surveillance and case management. In collaboration with Maisha Meds, a digital health platform, Lagos will deploy real-time electronic malaria reporting systems across public and private health facilities to ensure accurate and timely data collection.
A major focus of the program is improving diagnostic accuracy. Currently, many patients in Lagos receive anti-malarial treatment without proper testing, leading to misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment. The new initiative mandates compulsory rapid diagnostic testing before any malaria treatment is administered.
“The new program mandates compulsory rapid diagnostic testing before any malaria treatment is administered. This initiative will ensure that only confirmed malaria cases receive anti-malarial treatment. It will also reduce the misuse of antibiotics, which is a major driver of drug resistance,” Abayomi explained.
Expanding Access and Standardizing Care
Given that a significant portion of malaria cases in Lagos are treated outside government hospitals, the program will integrate community pharmacies, patent medicine vendors, and private hospitals into the state’s malaria control network. The Lagos State Government is working closely with the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria and the National Malaria Elimination Programme to standardize treatment protocols across all healthcare providers.
“This means that, whether a patient seeks treatment at a public hospital, private clinic, or neighborhood pharmacy, they will receive the same high-quality malaria diagnosis and treatment based on the state’s guidelines,” Abayomi said.
Changing Public Perception and Behavior
A key goal of the initiative is to shift public attitudes toward fever management and malaria treatment. Many Lagos residents self-diagnose malaria and purchase anti-malarial drugs without testing. The program aims to discourage self-medication and encourage residents to seek proper diagnosis before treatment.
“Not every fever is malaria. In fact, many fevers are caused by bacterial or viral infections that require different treatments. With this initiative, we are discouraging self-medication and encouraging Lagosians to get tested before taking any medication,” Abayomi emphasized.
To make malaria treatment more accessible, the program will integrate malaria care into Lagos State’s health insurance scheme, ‘Ilera Eko’. This will ensure that registered enrollees can receive malaria tests and treatment at little or no cost, reducing the financial burden on families and encouraging prompt healthcare-seeking behavior.
Strategic Interventions
The program will deploy three major intervention strategies to achieve its goal of reducing malaria prevalence to less than one percent:
- Scaling up effective case management: Ensuring all suspected malaria cases are tested and accurately treated.
- Enhancing disease surveillance: Using digital tools to track malaria cases in real-time and guide interventions.
- Community engagement and prevention: Educating the public on malaria prevention methods, including the proper use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets and environmental hygiene.
Formal Launch and Stakeholder Involvement
The program will be formally launched on March 4, 2025, at Eko Hotel, Lagos, in a high-profile event attended by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Honourable Minister of Health, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, and representatives from the World Health Organisation, World Bank, and National Malaria Elimination Programme.
Abayomi urged all residents, healthcare providers, and stakeholders to support the initiative, emphasizing that malaria elimination is a collective responsibility. “We need the public to adopt a test-before-treatment mindset. We need healthcare providers to follow best practices. We need communities to take ownership of malaria prevention. Together, we can achieve a malaria-free Lagos,” he concluded.
In her remarks, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, reinforced the importance of changing public attitudes toward fever management and malaria treatment. “This initiative is about changing behaviors. People must move away from self-diagnosis and assumptions. The era of saying, ‘I think I have malaria’ without testing is over. Every fever should be tested first, and only confirmed cases should be treated for malaria,” she said.
Dr. Ogunyemi also highlighted the critical role of pharmacists and patent medicine vendors in ensuring compliance with the new malaria testing protocols. “Pharmacies and medicine shops play a huge role in how people access treatment. We are integrating them into this program so that when someone walks in with a fever, the first step is a test, not just selling anti-malarial drugs,” she added.
The Lagos State government’s commitment to making malaria treatment more accessible, affordable, and effective underscores its determination to achieve a malaria-free future for all residents.