The Ogun State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to eliminating malaria, marking this year’s World Malaria Day with renewed efforts aimed at reducing the disease’s prevalence to zero.
Speaking during a sensitisation walk and medical outreach, the Director of Public Health at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Abayomi Bamiselu, disclosed that the state has recorded a significant decline in malaria cases in recent years.
According to him, data from the National Malaria Indicator Survey shows that prevalence dropped from 25 per cent in 2021 to 7.4 per cent in 2025, a development he attributed to sustained health interventions by the current administration.
Bamiselu explained that the survey, conducted every three years, is community-based and not limited to hospital records, thereby providing a more accurate reflection of the situation on the ground. He added that the state remains focused on achieving zero prevalence in subsequent assessments.
Highlighting ongoing interventions, he noted that malaria testing and treatment are provided free of charge in most government health facilities, while long-lasting insecticide-treated nets are distributed to pregnant women and nursing mothers.
He emphasised that public awareness remains central to the state’s malaria control strategy, urging residents to take advantage of free testing services offered as part of the World Malaria Day activities.
Also speaking, the Programme Officer of the State Malaria Elimination Programme, Mrs. Olamide Adeyinka, said the outreach extended beyond malaria, with screening conducted for tuberculosis and HIV, alongside general health education.
She advised residents to maintain clean environments by eliminating stagnant water around their homes, stressing that reducing mosquito breeding sites is critical to curbing transmission.
Some beneficiaries of the outreach, including Mrs. Joyce Fowosire and Mr. Ademola Oluga, commended the government’s efforts, calling for sustained initiatives to further strengthen public health outcomes across the state.