Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has launched an ambitious initiative to eradicate malaria in the state. The initiative introduces digital tracking tools and expanded healthcare access to combat the disease.
At the launch event, Sanwo-Olu emphasized that malaria is not just a health issue, but a significant socio-economic burden that affects productivity, household incomes, and education.
Sanwo-Olu stressed that eradicating malaria is an economic imperative, affecting schoolchildren, businesses, and overall productivity. The initiative aims to achieve malaria eradication in Lagos by 2025 through real-time digital tracking of malaria cases, minimising the need for extensive blood testing and enabling faster diagnosis.
The program also emphasizes strengthened private-sector partnerships to expand access to quality healthcare, ensuring treatment reaches more people efficiently.
The initiative calls for collective action from government agencies, healthcare providers, and community leaders to drive awareness and implementation at all levels. Regular progress tracking will ensure accountability, with a clear goal of achieving malaria eradication in Lagos by 2025.
Sanwo-Olu urged stakeholders to double their efforts in fighting malaria, emphasizing that strong leadership is crucial in the health sector. He announced the promotion of Dr. Abiola Idowu to Permanent Secretary of the Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA), recognizing her importance in leading the agency.
This initiative is part of a broader effort to combat malaria in Lagos, which has already seen significant progress. According to Prof. Akin Abayomi, Lagos State Commissioner for Health, the state has a malaria prevalence of under 3%, far below the national average.
The Pathway to Malaria Pre-Elimination & Digitisation Program aims to reduce malaria prevalence below 1% through digital innovations, strengthened case management, and enhanced public-private partnerships.
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