Makoko, Lagos’ water-bound community, is plagued by malaria. Residents self-diagnose and self-medicate due to a lack of access to quality healthcare and affordability.
Patent medicine sellers and herbal remedies are the norm. Experts warn that this leads to incomplete treatment and drug resistance, worsening outcomes for vulnerable groups like children and pregnant women.
Elizabeth Mehento, a mother of seven, treats malaria monthly without proper testing, relying on self-diagnosis and unregulated remedies. Many in Makoko do the same, swallowing what’s familiar, even if unproven.
In Makoko, every fever is assumed to be malaria. Without accessible healthcare, residents fend for themselves, perpetuating a cycle of uncertainty and poor health outcomes.
It’s about to get worse with the current demolitions.
