The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi, disclosed the findings in a publish on X on Friday, September 4.
According to him, the research lined greater than 78,000 individuals throughout 514 healthcare shops 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 mentioned.
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 and not using a correct analysis.
Abayomi mentioned the research had additionally uncovered the dangers related to the widespread follow of self-treatment, notably when residents expertise fever.
He defined that the widespread sample was for individuals to imagine that they had malaria, buy antimalarial medication and, when there was no enchancment, proceed to different drugs, together with antibiotics.
He urged residents to as an alternative search skilled medical care, endure the required assessments and take medicines based mostly on the analysis.
“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 mentioned.
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 group pharmacies and patent medication shops, noting that they’re regularly the primary factors of contact for residents who develop fever.
Abayomi mentioned high quality-assured malaria speedy diagnostic assessments must be accessible at such shops, with clear referral programs for sufferers whose outcomes are damaging.
He cautioned residents towards robotically treating fever as malaria, stressing {that a} damaging malaria check ought to set off additional investigation somewhat than the speedy use of one other treatment.
“My message to the public is simple: Do not assume every fever is malaria. Test before you treat,” Abayomi mentioned.
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 mentioned the coverage would encourage correct analysis and accountable medication use, whereas additionally serving to to scale 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 mentioned.
