When Akinola, a laboratory technician in Oye LGA, placed a malaria rapid diagnostic test (mRDT) kit on the table, he was confident he knew the steps, afterall he had done it dozens of times. But when the trainer reminded him to wait; not just five minutes, but the full recommended 15 minutes, he realized he may have been missing a crucial detail all along.
“I never knew that I had to wait for the entire 15 minutes! This training made me realise that for my mRDT result to be consistent, I had to wait the entire duration before making a decision.” — MLT, Oye LGA
Despite the wide availability of test kits, gaps in health worker knowledge affected the effective use of these kits to properly diagnose malaria. Variations in how mRDTs (test kits) were used limited the accuracy of malaria diagnosis. With malaria prevalence around 20.8%, and more than 800,000 people seeking malaria care in just 18 months, minor inconsistencies in the diagnostic practice had consequences. It is possible that some patients received treatment they did not need, while others in need missed out on treatment.
Recognizing this gap, the Ekiti State Ministry of Health, in line with Nigeria’s National Malaria Strategic Plan (2021–2025) and the federal goal of a malaria-free Nigeria by 2030, launched a practical training programme in July 2025. With support from Abbott, and in collaboration with the State Malaria Elimination Programme (SMEP), Solina Health, and local government teams, the state delivered a four-day, hands-on training for health workers across all 16 LGAs.
More than 350 participants, including laboratory technicians and State Health Vanguards, were guided step by step through the core processes of malaria testing.
They pricked fingers, collected blood samples, measured buffer drops, and waited patiently as test strips revealed results. Trainers provided real-time feedback, correcting errors such as handling faint lines, applying buffers in the wrong direction, or discarding used kits unsafely.
“This practical session really helped me understand the tests better. I think I am now ready to go back and show my colleagues in the facility how to do it properly.” — MLT, Ikere LGA
“I didn’t know before that the way you apply the buffer can affect the result. But now, I understand it better.” — MLT, Efon LGA & SHV, Ijero LGA
For State Health Vanguards; community-based volunteers, the training created new opportunities to extend reliable malaria testing beyond facilities, into villages where there are no proper health facilities.
The training showed that follow-up really matters. Participants said they would need regular mentorship in their facilities to keep building on what they learned.
Based on this feedback, the next phase of Ekiti’s malaria response will put more focus on supportive supervision and mentorship, so health workers can keep practicing the right skills, even in remote areas.
Both participants and supervisors are hopeful this will lead to lasting improvements. With better skills, health workers are more likely to follow national guidelines, record clearer data, and make fewer mistakes in malaria testing. If this continues, it could mean that when a child comes in with fever, treatment decisions are guided more by reliable test results than by guesswork.
