The Federal Government and the Lagos State Government are joining efforts in a fight against malaria, one of Nigeria’s deadliest diseases.
At a mid-term review of the Impact Project and the roadmap towards malaria elimination held in Lagos on Thursday, Mohammed Ali Pate, Nigeria’s minister of health, praised Lagos State for its leadership and dedication in the fight against malaria.
“I commend the Lagos State Government for pioneering this initiative and for its unwavering dedication to malaria control. This effort shows that with determination and innovation, we can overcome even the toughest challenges,” the minister said.
He also expressed appreciation to national and international partners for their collaboration, reaffirming the Federal Ministry of Health’s commitment to supporting Lagos through the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP).
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Pate highlighted some key achievements from the collaboration, including the successful onboarding of Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendors (PPMVs) and community pharmacies into a structured, regulated, and digitized malaria service delivery system.
He explained that the integration of digital technology has significantly improved data collection, analysis, and reporting, enabling better tracking of progress, identification of service gaps, and data-driven decision-making to strengthen malaria interventions.
Addressing the gathering, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, reaffirmed the state’s commitment to transitioning from a high malaria burden to a pre-elimination stage, ultimately paving the way for a malaria-free Lagos.
He stated that the state is leveraging evidence, technology, and collaboration to drive progress. He emphasised the importance of reviewing field data to ensure the effective use of Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs) and proper reporting from private pharmacies and PPMVs.
“This review is focused on accountability, scale, quality, and community ownership,” the governor noted.
He stressed that malaria cannot be tackled by focusing solely on clinical interventions, calling on households and communities to play a more active role in prevention.
“We cannot tackle malaria just by focusing on clinics. Households and communities must step up by eliminating breeding sites, getting tested promptly, and trusting the health system,” he added.
