Lagos plans to eradicate malaria with digital technology
Akin Abayomi
Lagos plans to eradicate malaria with digital technology.
Lagos State Government has launched an initiative, the Pathway to Malaria Pre-Elimination & Digitization Program, aimed at reducing malaria prevalence to below 1% through digital technology, strengthened case management, and expanded public-private partnerships.
The state Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, emphasized that Lagos, with a malaria prevalence already below the national average at under 3%, is leading the charge in eliminating the disease.
A key highlight of the program is the mandatory rapid diagnostic testing (RDTs) before malaria treatment to prevent misdiagnosis and inappropriate use of anti-malarial drugs.
Prof. Abayomi warned that many Lagos residents self-diagnose malaria and buy drugs without testing, leading to drug resistance and ineffective treatments.
“Not every fever is malaria. Many fevers are caused by bacterial or viral infections requiring different treatments. Moving forward, every fever must be properly diagnosed before treatment,” Abayomi said.
A major innovation under this program is the integration of digital health solutions in partnership with Maisha Meds. Lagos will deploy real-time electronic malaria reporting systems across public and private health facilities, ensuring accurate tracking of cases.
To standardize treatment, the Lagos State Government is partnering with the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) and the National Malaria Elimination Program (NMEP) to integrate community pharmacies, patent medicine vendors, and private hospitals into its malaria control network.
Despite its low prevalence, Lagos still records about 900,000 malaria cases annually, with malaria-like febrile illnesses accounting for over 50% of outpatient visits.
Malaria contributes significantly to lost productivity, school absenteeism, and high household healthcare costs, amounting to billions of naira in economic losses annually.
To enhance affordability, malaria care will be integrated into Ilera Eko, the Lagos State Health Insurance Scheme, ensuring residents can access free or subsidized malaria tests and treatments.
The official launch of the program is scheduled for March 4, 2025, at Eko Hotel, Lagos, with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Health Minister Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, and representatives from WHO, World Bank, and NMEP in attendance.
Prof. Abayomi called on all Lagos residents, healthcare providers, and stakeholders to support the initiative:
“A malaria-free Lagos is a collective responsibility. We need people to adopt a ‘test-before-treatment’ mindset and for healthcare providers to follow best practices.”
With this initiative, Lagos is setting the stage for a malaria-free future, leveraging technology, policy reforms, and community participation to achieve malaria pre-elimination status.
