The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi, disclosed the findings in a put up on X on Friday, September 4.
According to him, the research lined greater than 78,000 individuals throughout 514 healthcare retailers in the state.
“Our extensive fever study, involving more than 78,000 people across 514 healthcare outlets, found that only about 5% of people with fever tested positive for malaria. That means 95% had another cause of fever,” he stated.
The findings have led the Lagos State Government to undertake a “Test Before Treat” method to discourage residents from assuming that each case of fever is malaria and taking antimalarial medication with out a correct prognosis.
Abayomi stated the research had additionally uncovered the dangers related to the widespread apply of self-remedy, significantly when residents expertise fever.
He defined that the widespread sample was for individuals to imagine they’d malaria, buy antimalarial medication and, when there was no enchancment, proceed to different medicines, together with antibiotics.
He urged residents to as a substitute search skilled medical care, bear the mandatory checks and take medicines primarily based on the prognosis.
“For years, the pathway has often been: patient feels unwell, sees a healthcare provider, undergoes history and examination, takes an appropriate test, receives a diagnosis and gets appropriate treatment,” he stated.
According to the commissioner, the “Test Before Treat” coverage was launched in response to the research’s findings and the altering sample of malaria in Lagos.
He additional highlighted the position of neighborhood pharmacies and patent medication shops, noting that they’re ceaselessly the primary factors of contact for residents who develop fever.
Abayomi stated high quality-assured malaria fast diagnostic checks must be out there at such retailers, with clear referral programs for sufferers whose outcomes are damaging.
He cautioned residents in opposition to robotically treating fever as malaria, stressing {that a} damaging malaria take a look at ought to set off additional investigation moderately than the quick use of one other remedy.
“My message to the public is simple: Do not assume every fever is malaria. Test before you treat,” Abayomi stated.
He added, “If the test is positive, treat appropriately. If it is negative, do not simply move on to another medicine. Find out what is actually causing the illness.”
The commissioner stated the coverage would encourage correct prognosis and accountable medication use, whereas additionally serving to to cut back pointless consumption of antibiotics.
“This is about better diagnosis, better use of medicines and better healthcare. It is also about protecting our antibiotics from unnecessary use and helping Lagos move closer to malaria elimination,” he stated.
