Lagos Marks World Health Day with Science-Driven Push As Malaria Rate Drops To 5%
Health policymakers, development partners, and experts converged in Lagos to commemorate World Health Day 2026 with a high-level symposium focused on science-driven solutions.
The event, themed “Together for Health: Stand with Science – The Role of Scientific Collaboration in Protecting Human, Animal, Plant, and Planetary Health,” was preceded by an awareness walk within the Secretariat complex, underscoring the government’s commitment to preventive healthcare and public engagement.
Delivering the keynote address, the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, said the state is deepening reforms by leveraging science, data, and innovation to strengthen health systems and improve outcomes.
Abayomi said the adoption of rapid diagnostic testing has reduced malaria positivity rates in public health facilities from about 60 percent to five percent, revealing that most fevers are not malaria and enabling more accurate diagnosis and treatment.
He further explained that Lagos is strengthening its capacity in research, innovation, and digital health, including the deployment of smart health information platforms to enhance data management, patient care, and decision-making.
In her opening remarks, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. (Mrs.) Kemi Ogunyemi, stressed the importance of collaboration in addressing Nigeria’s health challenges.
She said the theme highlights the urgency of collective action, noting that diseases such as malaria, HIV, and malnutrition require coordinated responses and stronger policy advocacy, supported by interventions like mandatory health insurance and improved emergency systems.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Dayo Lajide, said the symposium was designed to foster collaboration under the One Health approach, emphasizing the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health.
