The Lagos State Government has introduced the Pathway to Malaria Pre-Elimination & Digitization Program, an ambitious initiative aimed at reducing malaria prevalence below 1%.
The program is designed to accelerate malaria elimination through digital health innovations, improved case management, and public-private partnerships. Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, made the announcement at a high-level press briefing, stating that the initiative marks a significant step towards eradicating the disease in the state.
Prof. Abayomi noted that while Lagos has a malaria prevalence of under 3%, far below the national average, the state still records about 900,000 cases annually. He emphasized the economic burden of malaria, which leads to absenteeism from work and school, reduced productivity, and increased healthcare costs for families.
He stressed that eliminating malaria would not only improve public health but also strengthen the state’s economy by reducing treatment costs and boosting workforce productivity.
A key component of the initiative is the integration of digital health solutions to optimize malaria surveillance and case management. The Commissioner revealed that Lagos, in collaboration with Maisha Meds, will deploy real-time electronic malaria reporting systems across public and private health facilities. This system will enhance accurate data collection and ensure that every fever is properly diagnosed using digital diagnostic tools before treatment is administered.
He noted that many Lagosians currently receive anti-malarial treatment without proper testing, leading to misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment.
To standardize malaria treatment across all healthcare providers, the state government is working with the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) and the National Malaria Elimination Program (NMEP). The initiative will integrate community pharmacies, patent medicine vendors, and private hospitals into the malaria control network. Prof. Abayomi also disclosed that the program will be included in the state’s health insurance scheme, Ilera Eko, to ensure affordable malaria testing and treatment for residents.
The program is set to be officially launched on March 4, 2025, at Eko Hotel, Lagos, in an event to be attended by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Minister of Health, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, and representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Bank, and other key stakeholders. The Commissioner urged Lagosians to embrace the initiative by prioritizing proper malaria diagnosis and treatment, warning against self-medication and the misuse of anti-malarial drugs.