Lagos State Commissioner for Health warns pharmacies: positive malaria test required before dispensing anti-malarial drugs as state aims for elimination
The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, has issued a strong warning to pharmacies against dispensing anti-malaria medications to patients who have not presented a positive malaria test result from a healthcare provider.
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This directive was announced on Wednesday during the Ministry’s Annual Ministerial Press briefing, where Professor Abayomi highlighted the health sector achievements under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration.
Professor Abayomi emphasized that mandatory testing before treatment is crucial to prevent unnecessary medication use and to accurately diagnose the cause of a patient’s fever.
He stated that this initiative will be strictly enforced as the state intensifies its efforts towards malaria prevalence reduction and eventual elimination.
The Commissioner proudly announced that Lagos State has achieved a significant milestone in malaria control, with a prevalence rate of 2.6 percent, placing it in the low transmission category.
While acknowledging the declining trend of malaria in the state, he cautioned that it remains a significant health threat.
The goal is to get rid of malaria in Lagos State,” stated Professor Akin Abayomi, Lagos State Commissioner for Health.
“The goal is to get rid of malaria in Lagos State,” Professor Abayomi asserted, highlighting the state’s unique position to achieve pre-elimination and elimination through strong political will, infrastructure development, and a robust human resource strategy.
He further outlined strategies including digital interventions, health insurance financing, and collaborations with donor and private sector partners.
Professor Abayomi also stressed the importance of environmental management in the fight against malaria, stating, “We are going to work with the Ministry of Environment and make sure that we are tackling the patients and the parasites, and that our colleagues in the environment are tackling the environment and making sure we are getting rid of the vector, the anopheles mosquito that we breed.”
He urged residents to maintain clean surroundings, eliminate stagnant water, and clear vegetation around homes to prevent mosquito breeding.
The Commissioner’s address also highlighted the concerning global malaria statistics from the World Health Organisation (WHO), which indicates that one person dies from malaria every minute in Africa.
The 2024 World Malaria Report revealed that Nigeria accounted for an estimated 40 percent of malaria cases and 46 percent of deaths within the ten highest burden countries in 2023.
