By Bilkis Abdulraheem Lawal
With prevalence now below 1%, the new campaign focuses on prevention, testing, treatment, and tracking, reinforcing Lagos as a model for malaria control in Nigeria.
The Lagos State Government, in partnership with the World Bank, Society for Family Health (SFH), and development partners, has launched a major public enlightenment and media campaign to strengthen malaria prevention and management in the state.
The initiative, under the World Bank–funded Malaria IMPACT Project, is built on four pillars — Prevent, Test, Treat, and Track, with the goal of sustaining Lagos’ malaria pre-elimination status and setting the state up as a national model in the fight against the disease.
Lagos’ Progress in Malaria Reduction
At the official launch in Ikeja, SFH Managing Director, Dr. Omokhudu Idogho, described the campaign as “a defining moment in Lagos’ public health journey,” noting that malaria prevalence in the state has dropped from 15% in 2010 to nearly 1% today.
He cautioned against complacency, stressing that while malaria is no longer the dominant cause of fever in Lagos, residents must not revert to old habits of presumptive treatment.
“The new normal is simple: test before treatment. This is non-negotiable,” he said.
Idogho added that the campaign would use multiple platforms, from radio and TV jingles to billboards, bus branding, bulk SMS, digital media, and direct community engagement, to spread accurate and actionable messages.
Combating Self-Medication and Drug Resistance
The SFH boss also warned against self-medication and incomplete doses of drugs, which fuel resistance to treatment. He emphasised adherence to Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy (ACTs) as central to defeating malaria.
“This campaign is not just about treating malaria, but about treating it right,” he said.
Reaching the Grassroots
Deputy Managing Director, SFH Nigeria, Dr. Jennifer Anyanti, highlighted the project’s deliberate engagement with the informal health sector, where more than 60% of Lagosians seek their first care.
She explained that community pharmacies and Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendors (PPMVs) would be trained and equipped to ensure proper malaria testing, referrals, and treatment.
“Whether you walk into a clinic, a primary health centre, a pharmacy, or even a patent medicine shop, the goal is the same, diagnosis first, the right treatment after,” she said.
Anyanti added that strengthening data reporting at community level would help improve surveillance, stressing that “data is the backbone of accountability”. She also urged residents to embrace preventive practices such as environmental sanitation and the use of insecticide-treated nets.
Collective Effort Needed
Lagos State Malaria Elimination Programme Manager, Dr. Abimbola Osinowo, praised the collaboration, describing it as proof of what government and partners can achieve together.
“This campaign is not just about malaria. It is about saving lives and building healthier communities. With political will and strong partnerships, malaria elimination is within reach,” she said.
She emphasized that sustained media engagement is key to changing old habits and urged citizens, religious leaders, and civil society to join the effort.
“Keep your environment clean, sleep under treated nets, demand testing before treatment, and complete your medications. Together, we can make history with a malaria-free Lagos,” she added.
Next Step
The campaign launch ended with a collective commitment from stakeholders to amplify the Prevent, Test, Treat, and Track message across the state, ensuring that no resident is left behind in the fight against malaria.
Leave a Reply