NMEP, Global Fund begin Integrated Malaria-TB Lab capacity training in Ogun
NMEP, Global Fund begin Integrated Malaria-TB Lab capacity training in Ogun
Laboratory technicians in Ogun have been trained on improved malaria and tuberculosis diagnosis to enhance testing accuracy and ensure appropriate treatment of patients across the state.
Prof. Wellington Oyibo, Consultant Medical Pathologist, at the training in Abeokuta on Thursday, said the initiative was aimed at strengthening laboratory capacity for effective diagnosis and monitoring of malaria and tuberculosis.
He said the programme was being implemented through the National Malaria Elimination Programme and the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, with support from the Global Fund and other partners.
Oyibo, Director, Centre for Transdisciplinary Research in Malaria and Medical Tropical Diseases, described the initiative as the first large-scale integrated malaria and tuberculosis microscopy training programme.
He noted that the programme was designed to improve diagnostic capacity across selected states.
According to him, the programme adopted a practical training approach to ensure that participants acquire the necessary skills to perform laboratory investigations effectively.
He added that another objective was to familiarise participants with best practices in effective case management and laboratory diagnosis of malaria and tuberculosis.
Oyibo said the selection process involved extensive consultations, adding that participating states were expected to train at least 40 laboratory personnel, depending on their capacity and available time.
“The overall goal is to build a critical mass of laboratory personnel capable of detecting and confirming malaria and tuberculosis through microscopy.
“While malaria diagnosis involves both microscopy and rapid diagnostic tests, tuberculosis microscopy is primarily required for monitoring patients after initial diagnosis.
“It is important to equip laboratory officers with the knowledge and skills required to identify relevant laboratory indicators, assess treatment outcomes and ensure accurate reporting,” he said.
Oyibo said nine states had been selected to participate in the programme, describing their selection as an opportunity to strengthen laboratory services and improve disease management.
Oyibo said Nigeria had recorded significant progress in malaria control, with national malaria prevalence declining from 42 per cent in 2010 to 15 per cent in 2025.
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He added that Ogun had also recorded a significant reduction in malaria prevalence, from 26 per cent to about seven per cent.
According to him, the reduction recorded nationally and in some states should not lead to complacency, as malaria remains an important public health challenge.
Oyibo stressed that healthcare providers must not assume that every patient presenting with fever has malaria without conducting appropriate diagnostic tests.
Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Dr Olayinka Obafemi-Moses, College Secretary, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, described the programme as a significant contribution to improving healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
He explained that the initiative would discourage presumptive malaria treatment, whereby patients assumed that symptoms such as headaches were caused by malaria without proper laboratory investigation.
According to him, accurate diagnosis through microscopy and proper examination of samples would enable medical practitioners to identify the actual causes of illnesses and prescribe appropriate medications.
Also speaking, Dr Simon Ijezie from National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) stressed the need to strengthen laboratory diagnosis, noting that the decline in malaria prevalence meant that not every fever should be attributed to malaria.
According to him, accurate diagnosis was essential to ensure that patients with non-malaria-related fevers received appropriate treatment rather than being unnecessarily treated for malaria.
He added that the leadership of NMEP remained committed to sustaining the progress through targeted interventions and improved diagnosis.
