In commemoration of the 2025 World Malaria Day, observed annually on April 25th, the Permanent Secretary of Lagos State Health District V, Dr. Dapo Asiyanbi, led members of staff from the Agency on a health sensitisation and awareness walk to educate the public on malaria prevention and treatment.
During the campaign, which took place across key locations in the district, Dr. Asiyanbi urged Lagosians to prioritize proper medical diagnosis before taking any malaria medication.
“Self-medication is dangerous,” he said. “We advise residents to visit approved health facilities for proper diagnosis before commencing treatment.”
Dr. Asiyanbi further emphasised the Lagos State Government’s commitment to protecting pregnant women from malaria. He explained that all pregnant women who register for antenatal care at primary healthcare centres or government hospitals are entitled to receive Intermittent Preventive Therapy (IPT) at least twice or thrice during their pregnancy, free of charge.
Highlighting the impact of government intervention, Dr. Asiyanbi stated, “Thanks to the administration of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu and the THEMES Plus Agenda, the malaria prevalence rate in Lagos has significantly dropped to three out of every 100 residents, aligning with the malaria pre-elimination goals set by the World Health Organization (WHO).”
He also stressed the importance of maintaining clean environments as the rainy season approaches and outlined key preventive measures such as the consistent use of insecticide-treated bed nets and indoor residual spraying.
Dr. Asiyanbi called on all Lagosians to play an active role in the fight against malaria, reminding them that prevention is a shared responsibility.
