SFH partners with Lagos State Ministry of Health to combat malaria
Published By: Oluwapelumi Oluwayemi
The Society for Family Health (SFH) and the Lagos State Ministry of Health have formalized their commitment to combating malaria in Lagos State by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Monday.
This initiative, part of the World Bank-supported Malaria Impact Project, aims to implement innovative strategies to reduce the malaria burden through enhanced prevention and treatment services across public and private healthcare facilities.
A statement released by SFH on Tuesday noted the urgency of the initiative, noting that Nigeria remains one of the countries most affected by malaria, with over 97 percent of its population at risk.
In 2021, Nigeria accounted for 27 percent of the global malaria burden and 31 percent of malaria-related deaths, greatly impacting vulnerable groups such as children under five and pregnant women.
The Lagos State Impact Project aims to address these alarming statistics by aligning with the National Malaria Strategic Plan (NMSP) and implementing evidence-based interventions.
The MoU was signed by Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, and SFH’s Managing Director, Dr. Omokhudu Idogho, marking a strategic partnership focused on reducing malaria prevalence through improved services.
During the signing ceremony, Commissioner Abayomi stressed the importance of the Malaria Impact Project, stating, “Nigeria continues to bear the brunt of malaria, contributing greatly to global morbidity and mortality rates, particularly among vulnerable populations.”
He emphasized that the project is crucial for expanding access to malaria prevention tools, such as insecticide-treated nets (ITNs), and enhancing diagnosis and treatment services statewide.
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Dr. Omokhudu Idogho underscored the project’s focus on strengthening malaria diagnosis and case management.
He stated that SFH will collaborate with the Lagos State Malaria Elimination Programme (SMEP) to improve malaria diagnosis through expanded use of Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs) and microscopy.
He also highlighted community engagement, behavior change, and public-private partnerships as essential components of the initiative.
“We are proud to collaborate with the Lagos State Ministry of Health and local governments to significantly reduce the malaria burden in the state,” Idogho said.
“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.”
Dr. Jennifer Anyanti, Deputy Managing Director of SFH, emphasized the importance of community engagement, noting that it is central to the project’s approach.
“By working closely with local organizations 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 benefiting the over 20 million residents of the state,” she stated.
