Environment

“This finding changed everything. We realised that most people being treated for malaria did not actually have malaria. That is why Lagos introduced a strict policy of ‘No Treatment Without Testing,’” Abayomi said. He stressed that anti-malaria drugs remain effective when properly administered to confirmed cases and warned that indiscriminate treatment fuels the false belief that malaria medicines no longer work. The commissioner said the state had now adopted a comprehensive “Prevent, Test, Treat and Track” strategy involving compulsory testing, treatment of confirmed cases and digital tracking of positive patients to identify malaria hotspots and eliminate mosquito breeding sites. Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Kemi Ogunyemi, said the state remained committed to evidence-based interventions focusing on vector control, environmental sanitation, surveillance and community engagement. The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dayo Lajide, disclosed that more than 978,000 malaria cases were treated across public and private health facilities in 2025, attributing the figure to improved tracking and surveillance systems. Stakeholders at the symposium, including representatives of the World Health Organization and the Society for Family Health, commended Lagos for expanding rapid diagnostic testing and strengthening accountability within the healthcare system.Demographics The symposium ended with renewed commitments from government officials, development partners and healthcare professionals to sustain investments and accelerate coordinated efforts towards achieving a malaria-free Lagos.