Lagos State Government yesterday said it plans to eliminate malaria within the next one or two years.

Commissioner for Health, Prof Akin Abayomi stated this at ministerial briefing to commemorate Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu second year in office for second term.

He said that not all all fever symptoms should be regarded as malaria.

The commissioner urged Lagosians to always undergo proper testing when experiencing fever symptoms, warning against self-medication. 

“In Lagos, we are aiming to eliminate malaria within the next one or two years. About 99 per cent of fever cases are not malaria, so proper diagnosis is essential,” he advised.

Prof Abayomi reiterated the government’s commitment to improving healthcare delivery across the state. 

“We have turned the corner. Our strategies are working, and we remain focused on making Lagos a hub for world-class medical services,” he said.

Expressing deep concern over the growing brain drain in the medical sector, the state government described it as a major threat to effective healthcare delivery in the state.

Abayomi said that Lagos currently has only 7,000 doctors in its public healthcare system, far below the state’s target of 49,000.

He noted that the existing medical personnel fall significantly short of the World Health Organisation’s recommendation of doctor-to-patient ratio of 1:200, emphasizing the urgent need to bridge the gap.

To tackle the situation, Prof Abayomi said the state government is implementing a range of initiatives, including the training of more medical personnel, incentivizing the return of Nigerian doctors in the diaspora, and improving the welfare of healthcare workers.

“We are investing in the latest medical equipment and providing better welfare packages, including accommodation, for medical professionals,” he stated.

The commissioner added that an executive bill has been sent to the State House of Assembly to increase the intake of students into the Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM) and Lagos State University of Science and Technology, as part of efforts to boost the number of homegrown doctors.

Highlighting the scale of the national crisis, Professor Abayomi said Nigeria faces a shortage of about 300,000 doctors, with at least 16,000 having left the country in recent years. Despite this, he affirmed Lagos’ commitment to turning the tide.

He said: “Lagos is strategically addressing brain drain and aiming to achieve brain gain. We are beginning to see results, with some medical professionals from the diaspora returning permanently or working with us intermittently. Many are now aligning with our healthcare initiatives.”

According to him, Lagos State Ministry of Health, which is the largest ministry in the state with 18,000 staff and 40 directors, is partnering with private healthcare providers to augment public health services.

In terms of infrastructure development, the commissioner said that three new secondary hospitals are scheduled to be inaugurated within the next 12 months in Ojo, Lagos Island, and Ketu-Ejirin.

On climate resilience, Prof Abayomi said the government is designing health facilities that take into account the unique topography and population density of Lagos. 

“We are constructing buildings with concrete in high-density areas and using sand fill where necessary,” he said.

He also announced that the largest cancer center in West Africa, located in Alausa, is now operational, providing specialized and comprehensive care for cancer patients.