By Chioma Obinna

The Lagos State Government on Wednesday intensified efforts to eliminate malaria, revealing that malaria prevalence in the state has dropped to below two per cent, while about 95 per cent of fever cases recorded in Lagos are no longer linked to malaria.

The government also reinforced its ” Test Before Treatment” policy across public and private health facilities, warning residents against self-medication and presumptive treatment without proper diagnosis.
Speaking at a symposium to commemorate the 2026 World Malaria Day at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, said Lagos was steadily moving towards malaria pre-elimination due to sustained investments in public health interventions, surveillance, environmental sanitation, and data-driven strategies.

The symposium, themed: “Driven to End Malaria: Now We Can, Now We Must,” brought together health experts, development partners, community leaders and healthcare providers.

Abayomi described malaria as one of the world’s biggest public health threats, noting that nearly 260 million people contract the disease globally every year, while close to 600,000 deaths are recorded annually.

According to him, Africa accounts for about 95 per cent of global malaria cases, while Nigeria contributes roughly 27 per cent of the global burden.

Despite Nigeria’s high burden, the commissioner said Lagos had continued to outperform many states due to deliberate and sustained interventions.

“Fifteen years ago, about 15 out of every 100 Lagos residents carried malaria parasites. Ten years ago, it dropped to 10 per cent, and today we are at approximately two per cent. This clearly shows that Lagos is winning the fight against malaria transmission,” he said.

Abayomi explained that the government became concerned after observing that many patients were still being treated for malaria despite declining prevalence figures.

He disclosed that the state subsequently carried out one of the largest malaria studies in Nigeria in collaboration with the National Malaria Elimination Programme, Pharmacy Council of Nigeria and Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendors.

According to him, over 78,000 residents with fever symptoms were tested across 514 health facilities, including pharmacies, medicine vendors and Primary Health Centres using Rapid Diagnostic Tests with 98 per cent accuracy.

“The findings changed everything. Only five per cent of those who thought they had malaria actually tested positive.

“That means about 95 per cent of fever cases in Lagos are caused by illnesses other than malaria. This is why Lagos introduced a strict policy of ‘No Treatment Without Testing,’” Abayomi stated.

He warned that treating patients for malaria without confirmation fuels wrong perceptions that malaria drugs no longer work.

“Antimalarial medicines are still very effective when given to patients who truly have malaria,” he added.
The commissioner said the state had now adopted a comprehensive “Prevent, Test, Treat and Track” strategy aimed at mandatory testing, treatment of confirmed cases only, and digital tracking of malaria-positive patients to identify hotspots and eliminate mosquito breeding sites.

Earlier, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, said the World Malaria Day celebration was both a moment to celebrate progress and a call for stronger action.

She noted that although Lagos had reduced malaria prevalence to two per cent, the disease still remained a public health concern due to environmental and behavioural factors.

“Lagos State Government under the THEMES+ Agenda remains committed to evidence-based interventions, environmental sanitation, surveillance strengthening, community engagement and universal access to diagnosis and treatment,” Ogunyemi said.

She urged residents to embrace testing before treatment and intensify environmental sanitation practices capable of reducing mosquito breeding.

In her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Dayo Lajide, said Lagos had moved beyond malaria control and was now focused on elimination through innovation and digital surveillance systems.

She disclosed that more than 978,000 malaria cases were treated across public and private facilities in 2025, adding that the figures reflected improved data tracking systems.

“Through our collaboration with the World Health Organization, we digitised 514 private healthcare providers, including pharmacies and medicine vendors.

“Within that network, we recorded only five per cent malaria positivity, further reinforcing the need for strict adherence to the ‘Test Before Treat’ policy,” she said.

Also, speaking, the State Malaria Elimination Programme Manager, Dr. Abimbola Osinowo, said Lagos had strengthened malaria response through the IMPACT Project introduced in 2024.

She said the project ensured free rapid diagnostic testing and access to malaria treatment in public health facilities, while pregnant women were receiving insecticide-treated nets during antenatal visits.

The World Health Organization, Society for Family Health and community healthcare providers also commended Lagos for strengthening malaria diagnosis, surveillance, logistics and public awareness campaigns.

Speaking on behalf of the WHO State Coordinator, Dr. Ogundimu Opeyemi described the World Malaria Day commemoration as coming at a critical moment in Lagos’ journey towards malaria pre-elimination.
He reaffirmed WHO’s commitment to supporting the state in scaling up malaria interventions and strengthening resilient healthcare systems.