FG, Lagos govt declare zero tolerance for Malaria

The Federal Government and the Lagos State Government have jointly declared zero tolerance for malaria disease, expressing appreciation to national and international partners for their collaboration.

They made the declaration during the mid-term review of the Impact Project and the Roadmap Towards Malaria Elimination in Lagos, held on Thursday.

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, saying that the effort showed that with determination and innovation, it was possible to overcome even the toughest challenges.

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“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,” he said.

The minister, while expressing appreciation to national and international partners for their collaboration, reaffirmed his ministry’s commitment to supporting Lagos through the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP).

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 digitized malaria service delivery system.

This was just as 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.

Governor Sanwo-Olu, in his keynote address, 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.

The governor said the state was leveraging evidence, technology, and collaboration to drive progress, emphasizing 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,” he said.

Speaking further, Governor Sanwo-Olu 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 “by eliminating breeding sites, getting tested promptly, and trusting the health system.”

The governor, however, disclosed that Lagos’ strategy emphasizes 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 said.