IPS news reports appear daily in English, German, Finnish, Norwegian, Spanish and Swedish. Most parts of the 3,345-square kilometre area is swampy. The actions to be taken by government include prevention efforts and research. Eko Malaria Programme'', the project was launched this week by the Lagos State military administrator, Col. Mohammed Marwa.
Local councils have a major role to play in the campaign.
Lagos residents have been blamed in the past for dumping solid wastes indiscriminately blocking drainages and causing flooding during rains and creating stagnant waters which are good breeding places for mosquitoes. Since Jan. 1, malaria patients have been receiving free treatment in all the state's health clinics as a means of encouraging people to seek early treatment. Marwa said effective and even expensive prescribed drugs would be dispensed to patients free. The West African nation is also setting up a research programme to investigate the possibility of developing an effective malaria vaccine from local herbs, according to Segun Ogungbesan, the State's Health Commissioner. A research centre named after Nigeria's Head of State General Sani Abacha is to be established at the newly created Lagos State University College of Medicine.