The Nigerian Government has declared zero tolerance for malaria and reaffirmed its commitment to partnering with critical stakeholders to combat the disease.
The announcement was made during the mid-term review of the Impact Project and the roadmap toward malaria elimination in Lagos State.
Speaking at the event, Minister of Health, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, commended the Lagos State Government for its leadership in the fight against malaria and appreciated national and international partners for their collaboration.
“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.
Professor Pate highlighted key achievements from the collaboration, including the onboarding of Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendors (PPMVs) and community pharmacies into a structured, regulated, and digitised malaria service delivery system.
He noted that integrating digital technology has improved data collection, analysis, and reporting, enabling better tracking of progress and data-driven decision-making.
In his keynote address, the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu reaffirmed the state’s commitment to transitioning from a high malaria burden to a pre-elimination stage, aiming for a malaria-free Lagos.
Governor Sanwo-Olu emphasised the importance of evidence, technology, and collaboration in driving progress.
“This review is focused on accountability, scale, quality, and community ownership. 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. We must embed the message of prevention and testing into every aspect of life in Lagos,” he stated.
Governor Sanwo-Olu stressed that malaria control requires more than clinical interventions, calling on households and communities to play an active role in prevention.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, shared that Lagos is now in the pre-elimination phase, with malaria prevalence around one per cent.
“This new reality meant that most fevers in Lagos were now ‘malaria-negative fevers,’ requiring accurate diagnosis and alternative treatments and adherence to the ‘test-before-treatment’ protocol was essential to prevent misdiagnosis, drug misuse, and delayed recovery among patients.
“The next phase would demand a higher level of sophistication, surveillance, and behavioural change to move from pre-elimination to full elimination,” he noted.
The Commissioner said Lagos is adopting policies to expand diagnostic capacity, strengthen environmental health interventions, and intensify public awareness campaigns to sustain progress toward malaria elimination.