The Government of the State of Ondo, in collaboration with the Malaria Consortium, has announced plans to distribute more than 3.6 million networks treated with insecticides (ITN) to all homes of the entire State as part of the efforts to curb malaria.
The Health State Commissioner, Dr. Banji Ajaka, revealed this during an orientation of the media in the ITN 2025 campaign, stressing that the elimination of malaria requires contributions from all.
Ajaka, who said that the distribution would be marked by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, described malaria as a potentially deadly disease transmitted by infected Anopheles mosquitoes, and said that it remains one of Nigeria’s greatest public health challenges.
He expressed concern about the high fever rate of malaria in the state and warned that some malaria medications are ineffective due to the circulation of false medications.
The commissioner added that the state government is ready to address the problem with the deployment of scanning machines for drug integrity tests.
“The malaria campaign is necessary to prevent disease, and media organizations must intensify support for anti-male programs,” Ajaka said.
He explained that all homes in the state will receive ITS to help prevent malaria and said: “To reduce the burden of malaria in the state, the State Ministry of Health, through the Malaria elimination program and in collaboration with the National Malaria elimination program, is to distribute more than 3.6 million ITN to each home.
“Sleeping within an ITN is one of the best ways to prevent malaria, since studies show that the use of ITN reduces the incidence of malaria by 50 percent in sub -Saharan Africa, a region that represents more than 90 percent of global cases.
“The distribution of free networks will begin from September 9 to 17. People who use uniforms with the malaria logo will visit homes to register and distribute Net.
“Once collected, extend the new network for 24 hours in the shade before hanging it. The beneficiaries must sleep under the network every night, with it correctly hidden on the sleep area.”
Speaking at the event, the Malaria program officer at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Waheed Apholayan, emphasized that malaria remains a great public health challenge in Nigeria.
He pointed out that Nigeria represents 25 percent of the cases of global malaria and 30 percent of malaria -related deaths worldwide.
Afolayan added that about 60 percent of patients visiting health centers are treated by malaria, and that the disease contributes to 30 percent of deaths between children under five and 10 percent of deaths among pregnant women annually.
He pointed out that residents and the government at all levels spend billions of Naira every year on the prevention and treatment of malaria, and also highlighted the broader impact of the disease, stating that malaria significantly affects the country’s poverty rates and urged everyone to actively join the fight against it.
Highlighting the broader economic impact, Afolayan said that residents and governments of all levels spend billions of Naira each year in prevention and treatment of malaria, urging everyone to actively join the fight against the disease.
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