The Nigerian government has announced a significant decline in malaria transmission in Lagos State, attributing the progress to sustained investments in prevention, testing, and treatment. According to Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, Lagos is now in the pre-elimination stage, with a malaria positivity rate of less than 5 percent, a substantial drop from nearly 90 percent in the past.

The minister highlighted the state’s achievements as a model for coordinated interventions to reduce the burden of the disease. Key factors contributing to this success include proactive case management, routine testing, and environmental control measures that reduce mosquito breeding. The government’s strategies have also focused on distributing treated bed nets, implementing seasonal chemoprophylaxis for children, and effective case management.

Pate noted that the government is increasingly focusing on mosquito-control strategies targeting breeding sites, including the use of larvicides to reduce mosquito larvae. This approach adds another tool to Nigeria’s malaria control efforts, which have garnered international recognition. Experts have praised the country’s progress despite its historically high malaria burden, with the advisory group on malaria elimination recently visiting Nigeria to review its strategies and progress.

However, Prof. Pate cautioned that challenges remain, including population growth, climate change, and shifting rainfall patterns, which could complicate control efforts if not addressed. Emerging threats from drug and insecticide resistance also pose a concern, with poor medication use and weak regulation contributing to these issues.

Nigeria’s progress in reducing malaria transmission is significant, given the country’s high burden of the disease. The World Health Organization has reported that Nigeria accounts for a substantial proportion of malaria cases and deaths in Africa. The government’s efforts to control the disease are crucial, and continued investment in prevention, testing, and treatment will be necessary to achieve malaria elimination. As the country moves forward, addressing the challenges posed by population growth, climate change, and emerging threats will be essential to sustaining progress and ultimately eliminating the disease.