By Lilian U. Okoro

The Society for Family Health (SFH) and the Lagos State Ministry of Health have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on an initiative to combat malaria in Lagos state.

Under the World Bank-supported Malaria Impact Project, SFH is deploying innovative strategies to reduce the malaria burden by enhancing prevention and treatment services in both public and private healthcare facilities in the State.

The MoU was signed on Monday, a statement by SFH said on Tuesday.

It said that Nigeria was among the countries most affected by malaria, with over 97 per cent of the population at risk.

It added that in 2021, Nigeria accounted for 27 per cent of the global malaria burden and 31 per cent of malaria-related deaths, predominantly affecting vulnerable groups such as children under five and pregnant women.

The statement explained that the Lagos State Impact Project would address these disturbing figures by aligning with the National Malaria Strategic Plan (NMSP) and implementing evidence-based interventions.

“The MoU, signed by the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, and SFH’s Managing Director, Dr Omokhudu Idogho, underscores a strategic partnership focused on reducing malaria prevalence through enhanced prevention and treatment services.

“This collaborative effort is being supported by the World Bank to strengthen healthcare delivery across both public and private facilities in Lagos,” it said.

During the MoU signing ceremony, Abayomi emphasised the importance of the Malaria IMPACT Project, which aligns with the National Malaria Strategic Plan.

“Nigeria continues to bear the brunt of malaria, contributing significantly to global malaria morbidity and mortality rates, especially among vulnerable populations like children under five and pregnant women.

“This project is a critical step in reducing these numbers, as it aims to expand access to malaria prevention tools, such as insecticide-treated nets (ITNs), and improve diagnosis and treatment services across the state,” he said.

On his part, Dr Omokhudu Idogho, Managing Director of SFH, highlighted the significance of the project, saying that the Malaria Impact Project focuses on strengthening malaria diagnosis and case management.

He said that SFH would collaborate with the Lagos State Malaria Elimination Programme (SMEP) to enhance malaria diagnosis through the expanded use of Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs) and microscopy.

According him, community engagement and behaviour change as well as Public-Private Partnerships for Malaria Elimination, are other areas of focus for the project.

He said: “We are proud to collaborate with the Lagos State Ministry of Health, the Local Government Areas (LGAs) and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) to significantly reduce the malaria burden in the State.

“This initiative brings us closer to a Malaria-Free Nigeria while strengthening healthcare systems to deliver equitable, high-quality malaria control services, particularly in underserved communities.

“By leveraging data and digital solutions, we are addressing critical health challenges and driving improvements that will benefit the entire healthcare system.”

The Deputy Managing Director of SFH, Dr Jennifer Anyanti, emphasised the importance of community engagement.

According to her, community engagement is central to the initiative/project approach.

“By working closely with local organisations and stakeholders, we ensure that essential messages about malaria prevention and treatment reach even the most remote communities, thereby improving health outcomes for all and reaching the over 20 million residents of the state,” Anyanti said.

SFH is one of Nigeria’s largest non-governmental organisations, dedicated to providing high-quality health interventions for underserved populations in West Africa. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Vivian Ihechu