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 examine lined greater than 78,000 folks 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 mentioned.
The findings have led the Lagos State Government to undertake a “Test Before Treat” strategy to discourage residents from assuming that each case of fever is malaria and taking antimalarial medication with out a correct analysis.
Abayomi mentioned the examine had additionally uncovered the dangers related to the widespread observe of self-treatment, notably when residents expertise fever.
He defined that the frequent sample was for folks 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 a substitute search skilled medical care, endure the mandatory exams and take medicines primarily based 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 examine’s findings and the altering sample of malaria in Lagos.
He additional highlighted the position of neighborhood pharmacies and patent drugs shops, noting that they’re steadily the primary factors of contact for residents who develop fever.
Abayomi mentioned high quality-assured malaria fast diagnostic exams ought to be accessible at such retailers, with clear referral techniques for sufferers whose outcomes are damaging.
He cautioned residents towards robotically treating fever as malaria, stressing {that a} damaging malaria take a look at ought to set off additional investigation relatively than the rapid 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 drugs 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.
