Lagos to Reduce Malaria Prevalence to 1%

By Adedapo Adesanya

Lagos State is targeting cutting down malaria prevalence to 1 per cent, according to a new government report.

The report released by the Lagos State Government on Thursday said the state was moving from the stage of malaria control to the phase of total elimination of the parasite causing the illness.

The Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, said about 40,000 malaria Rapid Diagnostic Tests (mRDTs) conducted in the State by Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendors (PPMVs) and Community Pharmacies (CPs) revealed a notably low malaria positivity rate, signalling Lagos’ readiness to move beyond malaria control to true elimination.

The Commissioner shared a progress report with partners and stakeholders at the mid-term review of the Pathway to Malaria Pre-elimination and Digitisation Programme held in Lagos.

He stressed that data from public health facilities also showed sustained reductions in malaria positivity rate. This, the Commissioner said, underscored the coherence of the statewide approach.

The revelation excited the partners working with the state government on the World Bank-funded Immunisation Plus and Malaria Progress by Accelerating Coverage and Transforming Services (IMPACT) project, prompting them to sign on to the Government’s efforts to consolidate on the progress.

Professor Abayomi said the Ministry of Health had stepped up regulation and quality assurance, with Health Facilities Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA) intensifying its oversight to reduce disparities in service delivery and reinforce equity across public and private care.

“Together, we are consolidating gains and building irreversible momentum. With unity of purpose and courage of conviction, we will continue to scale our efforts and move Lagos ever closer to the ultimate prize, which is a future free from the scourge of malaria,” the Commissioner said.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in his address, said the state’s health digitisation programme had set a measurable goal, enhancing the momentum to further reduce malaria prevalence in Lagos to pre-elimination levels.

Mr Sanwo-Olu said the state specifically targeted a prevalence rate that would be below one per cent, stressing that the new pushback against the disease focused on improving diagnostics, ensuring consistent treatment, and enlightening the community.

By implementing real-time reporting systems and utilising digital platforms in public and private facilities, the Governor said the information gap that used to slow down diagnosis, reporting, and response times would be bridged.