Lagos Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has said that malaria is more than a disease, but equally a socio-economic burden that has held back individuals, families, and communities for far too long, declaring that its eradication is not just a health goal, but an economic imperative.
Governor Sanwo-Olu gave this position, while speaking at the launch of the Malaria Pre-Elimination and Digitization Programme, sadly noting that malaria robs individuals, families, and communities of productivity, and drains household incomes.
According to Sanwo-Olu, for many households in Lagos, especially those with modest incomes, malaria treatment can consume up to 3 per cent of monthly earnings, saying that this financial strain often forced families to make heartbreaking choices between healthcare and other basic needs like food or education, with the economic impact extending beyond households.
“This financial strain often forces families to make heartbreaking choices between healthcare and other basic needs like food or education. The economic impact extends beyond households—businesses suffer from absenteeism, schools record lower attendance rates among children, and our healthcare system bears the weight of preventable cases,” he said.
The governor expressed the resolve of his administration to change the narrative by ensuring eradication of malaria, which he said was not just a health goal, but equally an economic imperative.
“But today, we are here to change this narrative. The eradication of malaria is not just a health goal; it is an economic imperative. According to a report by Malaria No More UK, Nigeria could benefit from a GDP increase of nearly $34 billion by 2030. This is a staggering figure that underscores the urgent need for action.
“Imagine what Lagos could achieve if we reclaimed the billions lost annually to this disease. Imagine the possibilities for families who no longer have to choose between survival and opportunity. Imagine a Lagos where every child can attend school uninterrupted by illness and every adult can contribute fully to our economy.
“This programme represents hope—a hope rooted in innovation, collaboration, and determination. By leveraging digital tools, we will ensure that every malaria case is tracked in real time,” the governor stated.
Speaking further, Governor Sanwo-Olu stated that by strengthening partnerships with the private sector, the state would expand access to quality care, adding: “By empowering communities with knowledge and resources, we will build a culture of prevention that leaves no one behind.”
The governor further said that the benefits of eradicating malaria go far beyond health, noting this is so because a malaria-free Lagos would “mean increased productivity as healthy citizens are productive citizens who can work, innovate, and drive economic growth.”
Sanwo-Olu, however, commended the partners, including the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Bank, the National Malaria Elimination Program (NMEP), community pharmacies, private hospitals, and many others, for their invaluable support in making this initiative possible.
In his address at the launch, the State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Abayomi Abayomi, emphasised that the programme was a crucial step towards reducing malaria prevalence to below one per cent, marking a significant leap towards disease eradication in Lagos.
The commissioner, however, noted that Lagos was already leading the way with a malaria prevalence of under 3%, far below the national average, saying that the state was taking decisive steps with this initiative, “to eliminate malaria altogether and ensure that every fever is properly diagnosed and treated using a scientific and digitalized approach.”
He equally noted the economic toll of malaria, which results in absenteeism from work and school, decreased productivity, and increased household healthcare costs.
“Malaria is not just a health issue; it is a social and economic problem. The cost of treating malaria, combined with the indirect costs of lost productivity, runs into billions of naira annually. A malaria-free Lagos is a stronger, more prosperous Lagos,” the commissioner.
Abayomi disclosed that a key pillar of the Pathway to Malaria Pre-Elimination and Digitization Program is the integration of digital health solutions to optimize malaria surveillance and case management, noting that through a collaboration with Maisha Meds, a digital health platform, Lagos would deploy real-time electronic malaria reporting systems across public and private health facilities, ensuring swift and accurate data collection.
Besides, he said the initiative would also facilitate the use of digital diagnostic tools to improve accuracy in malaria testing, even as he observed that many patients in Lagos received anti-malarial treatment without proper testing, leading to misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment.
“The new programme mandates compulsory rapid diagnostic testing (RDTs) before any malaria treatment is administered. This initiative will ensure that only confirmed malaria cases receive anti-malarial treatment. It will also reduce the misuse of antibiotics, which is a major driver of drug resistance,” Abayomi said.
Abayomi said based on fact that a significant portion of malaria cases in Lagos are treated outside government hospitals, stated that the Pathway to Malaria Pre-Elimination and Digitization Program would integrate community pharmacies, patent medicine vendors, and private hospitals into the state’s malaria control network.
According to him, the state government is working closely with the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) and the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) to standardize treatment protocols across all healthcare providers.
“This means that, whether a patient seeks treatment at a public hospital, private clinic, or neighborhood pharmacy, they will receive the same high-quality malaria diagnosis and treatment based on the state’s guidelines,” he said.
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