By Chioma Obinna

LAGOS—As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to celebrate this year’s World Malaria Day today, a study by Lagos State Government has identified improper malaria diagnosis before treatment as a major challenge to the fight against the scourge.

The state government in collaboration with its partners has, therefore, pushed into the healthcare system microscopes and Rapid Diagnostic Test, RDT, kits to boost diagnosis of the disease and Artemisinin Combination Therapy, ACTs, anti-malarias being provided free for treatment in all the state-owned facilities.

At a briefing to mark 2013 world malaria day in Lagos, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, said the study showed that out of all fever cases presented at its health facilities in 2012 only, 26 percent was confirmed malaria case.

Emphasising the need for prompt diagnosis and treatment, Idris pledged that the state would continue to sustain and improve upon all activities geared towards malaria control.

He said: “We will continue to improve and sustain diagnosis of malaria cases and treatment with effective medicines, distribution of insecticide-treated nets, ITNs.

“This is to achieve full coverage of populations at risk of malaria, and the Indoor Residual Spraying, IRS, exercise.”

He lamented poor utilisation of ITNs by Lagosians and said the survey showed 17 percent utilisation of ITNs and 88 percent retention rate, noting that the drive to sustain and improve activities on malaria control, especially the distribution of ITNs and IRS exercise, were major means of malaria vector control.