The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), Lagos State Branch, has called for urgent and stronger community-driven action against malaria, warning that the disease must no longer be treated with levity.
Speaking during a statewide health outreach at the weekend, ACPN Lagos Chairman, Pharm. Tolu Ajayi, said community pharmacists are strategically positioned to lead malaria prevention and control efforts, beyond dispensing medicines.
“Malaria is not a simple fever to be taken lightly. If untreated properly, it can lead to life-threatening complications. Community pharmacists must be seen as frontline healthcare providers driving the fight against malaria,” Ajayi said.
Ajayi revealed that the 2025 malaria campaign, held in line with this year’s World Malaria Day theme, “Malaria Ends With Us: Reinvest, Reimagine and Reignite,” spanned across about 10 locations in Lagos, with pharmacists offering free health sensitisation, while others engaged the public through webinars, distribution of educational flyers, and social media campaigns. The activities, sponsored by Fidson Healthcare, Greenlife Pharmaceuticals, and Codix Pharma, culminated with a concluding webinar.
He emphasised the need for sustained vector control measures such as the eradication of mosquitoes, consistent use of long-lasting insecticide-treated nets, protective clothing in exposed environments, and clearing of drains and bushes around residential areas.
Ajayi further stressed the importance of effective diagnosis, noting that not all fevers are malaria. “The proper sequence must be prevention, effective diagnosis to confirm malaria, and then effective treatment with quality-assured antimalarial medicines,” he said.
Highlighting systemic issues, Ajayi also called on the government to intensify efforts toward eradicating open drug markets, which he described as hubs for fake and substandard medicines. He warned that the continued existence of such markets poses a serious threat to malaria control and public health at large.
He identified the high cost of Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) kits as another major setback to malaria control, noting that many patients prefer self-medicating rather than paying for tests. “We urgently need government and donor support to make malaria testing affordable or free. Otherwise, we will continue battling avoidable deaths and drug resistance,” he warned.
Ajayi disclosed that ACPN Lagos is collaborating with the World Health Organisation (WHO), University of Manitoba, PACS, the Federal Ministry of Health, and the Lagos State Ministry of Health on a new malaria elimination project focused on public education and responsible treatment practices.
At the Ejigbo outreach centre, Chairperson of the ACPN Ejigbo Zone, Pharm. Chioma Omatha, emphasised that community pharmacies are committed to quality control and ethical practice. “We insist on malaria testing before dispensing anti-malarials. It’s not about selling drugs; it’s about saving lives,” she said.
Also speaking, Zonal Coordinator of the EIKOT Zone, Pharm. Rachel Fakore, highlighted the persistent challenge of self-medication in the fight against malaria. She said their outreach efforts particularly targeted pregnant women and young mothers, stressing the use of insecticide-treated nets and the importance of environmental hygiene.
Across all zones, community pharmacists reaffirmed that sustained education, preventive care, early testing, and responsible medication use are essential strategies to reduce malaria cases and achieve elimination targets.
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