The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, has assured residents that the state is on a firm path toward eradicating malaria, a disease that continues to claim lives across Africa. Speaking during an awareness walk to commemorate the 2025 World Malaria Day, Abayomi declared that malaria would soon be a thing of history in Lagos if current efforts and strategies are sustained.
While addressing participants at the event themed “Malaria Ends With Us: Reinvest, Reimagine, Reignite,” the commissioner stressed the importance of proper diagnosis, noting that not every fever should be assumed to be malaria. He cautioned Lagosians to always seek medical testing before commencing treatment, as misdiagnosis remains a dangerous and costly trend. According to him, indiscriminate use of anti-malarial drugs is not only ineffective but also undermines the fight against the disease.
“Not every fever is malaria,” he stated emphatically. “We must move away from assumptions. If you feel unwell, go to a proper health facility and get tested. Misdiagnosing malaria costs lives and hinders progress.”
Professor Abayomi shared that Lagos has made significant progress in reducing malaria prevalence, moving from a troubling 15% rate in 2010 to just 3% in 2023. As of March-April 2025, he revealed, the most recent surveillance data indicates a prevalence of only 1.3%, a figure that places the state on the threshold of malaria pre-elimination as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO). He described this development as a major public health achievement and attributed it to coordinated policies, community-level interventions, and sustained investment.
The WHO currently ranks Nigeria as the country with the highest burden of malaria globally, accounting for approximately 27% of all malaria cases worldwide. The international health agency estimates that Nigeria records about 68 million cases and nearly 194,000 malaria-related deaths annually. Alarmingly, over two-thirds of the population still live in areas with high transmission, with mosquitoes such as Anopheles gambiae, Anopheles arabiensis, and Anopheles funestus identified as primary vectors.
Despite Lagos’ notable strides, the Commissioner raised concerns over the continued misuse of malaria drugs. He cited health data which shows that while only 3% of tested individuals were confirmed to have malaria, over 50% of those presenting with fever are still being treated presumptively for the disease. He warned that such patterns must be reversed to ensure accurate treatment and to reduce drug resistance.
“Early detection and correct treatment are essential. When we treat only confirmed cases with appropriate medications such as Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies (ACTs), we protect individuals and stop further transmission,” he noted.
Abayomi also pointed out that vulnerable groups, particularly pregnant women and children under five years old, must remain the focus of interventions, as they face the highest risk due to weaker or underdeveloped immune systems. He encouraged families and caregivers to adopt testing as a norm rather than relying on assumptions.
He further disclosed that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has given official backing to the state’s malaria pre-elimination roadmap, reinforcing it with both political will and financial commitment. According to the Commissioner, Lagos is setting the pace not only for other Nigerian states but also across the African continent.
“Governor Sanwo-Olu has given his full endorsement to this fight. This is not mere rhetoric; it is supported by data, resources, and a shared vision. Lagos is demonstrating that malaria can be beaten with the right tools and partnerships,” he said.
Also speaking at the event, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, emphasized the importance of community participation in the fight against malaria. She stressed that defeating the disease goes beyond medical facilities, noting that efforts must extend into homes, schools, markets, and the media.
She commended development partners such as the Society for Family Health and Goodknight Nigeria for their unwavering support in awareness campaigns and mosquito vector control, which she said have been instrumental in reaching grassroots communities.
According to WHO statistics, one person dies of malaria every minute in Africa. Yet, Lagos appears poised to change that narrative through focused leadership, data-driven action, and community ownership. With sustained momentum, the state is on course to become a shining example of how to eliminate one of the world’s oldest and deadliest diseases.
