The Lagos State Government has revealed that malaria prevalence in the state has dropped significantly over the last 15 years, even as the state faces a severe shortage of healthcare personnel, including about 30,000 doctors and 40,000 nurses.
The Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, disclosed this during a ministerial press briefing held in Alausa, Ikeja, as part of activities commemorating the seventh anniversary of the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
According to Abayomi, malaria prevalence in Lagos declined from 15 per cent in 2010 to 10 per cent in 2015, and has now dropped further to just two per cent in 2025.
Despite the progress, the Commissioner warned that malaria remains a major public health concern due to the state’s rapidly growing population.
He attributed the decline to sustained policy reforms and improved diagnostic systems designed to reduce unnecessary use of antimalarial drugs while promoting evidence-based treatment. The reforms, he said, are helping to curb excessive medication and “sledgehammer polypharmacy,” while improving accurate diagnosis and patient prognosis.
Abayomi added that the long-term goal is to reduce antimicrobial resistance across treatments for parasitic infections, bacterial diseases and tuberculosis.
The commissioner, however, expressed concern over mounting pressure on healthcare workers, disclosing that Lagos currently has only about 7,000 doctors, far below what is required to meet the healthcare needs of residents.
Citing standards set by the World Health Organisation, he noted that Nigeria currently has about 40,000 doctors serving a population ratio of one doctor to 5,000 people, significantly below the recommended ratio of one doctor to 600 patients needed to achieve Sustainable Development Goals targets.
“One doctor is doing the work of ten. The risk of burnout is high,” Abayomi said.
To bridge the manpower gap, the commissioner disclosed that the Ministry of Health has commenced a major expansion of the Lagos State University College of Medicine across Ikeja, Yaba and Gbagada. He explained that the project, now at the execution stage, is expected to increase the state’s annual training capacity by more than 2,500 healthcare professionals yearly.
According to him, lecture capacity will expand from 300 to 1,600 seats, while laboratory facilities and academic offices are also being significantly upgraded.
Abayomi further disclosed that the state government has completed a 72-room accommodation complex for house officers at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, while staff quarters in Odan, Gbagada and Ojo are nearing completion.
He added that all future medical facilities in Lagos would include staff accommodation close to hospitals to improve the welfare and working conditions of health personnel.
The commissioner also revealed that the new Massey Children’s Hospital on Lagos Island is nearing completion, while several general hospitals across the state are currently undergoing construction and renovation.
These include the 280-bed Iba-Ojo General Hospital, which he said is about 75 per cent completed, alongside projects in Somolu, Harvey, Isolo, Ebute Metta, Ajeromi-Ifelodun and Lagos Island.
Abayomi also disclosed that the 1,500-bed Mental Health Institute in Ketu-Ejinrin, Epe, has reached 65 per cent completion.
On primary healthcare delivery, he said 47 Primary Health Centres are currently undergoing renovation across the state, while several others have already been completed and solarised under different intervention programmes.
He maintained that the Sanwo-Olu administration remains committed to strengthening healthcare infrastructure, improving disease control, expanding manpower development and ensuring wider access to quality healthcare services across Lagos State.
