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By Lukman Olabiyi
Federal Government and the Lagos State Government have declared zero tolerance for malaria disease.
This was made during the mid-term review of the Impact Project and the roadmap toward malaria elimination in Lagos, yesterday.
Speaking at the event, Minister of Health, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, commended the Lagos State Government 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).
Professor 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 digitised malaria service delivery system.
He noted that the integration of digital technology had 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.
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In his keynote address, Lagos State Governor, Mr. 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.
Governor Sanwo-Olu stated that the state was 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 said.
The Governor added that Lagos’ strategy emphasises strong communication, a robust network of community health workers and partnerships with traditional leaders, market groups and schools.
“We must embed the message of prevention and testing into every aspect of life in Lagos,” he stated.
