The Ondo State Government, in partnership with the Federal Government, will distribute 3.6 million Insecticide-Treated Nets (ITNs) across households in the state as part of ongoing efforts to curb malaria.
The initiative, supported by the National Malaria Elimination Programme and the Malaria Consortium, was announced during a media orientation in Akure on Thursday by the state’s Commissioner for Health, Dr. Banji Ajaka.
Ajaka emphasised the life-saving impact of ITNs, noting that sleeping under treated nets could cut malaria incidence by 50 per cent in sub-Saharan Africa, which bears over 90 per cent of global cases.
“Distribution of the free nets will run from September 8 to 17. Trained personnel in malaria-branded uniforms will visit households to register and distribute nets. Beneficiaries are advised to air the nets for 24 hours before use and ensure proper tucking at night,” Ajaka explained.
The commissioner also raised concerns over the circulation of fake drugs, revealing that government had acquired scanning machines to detect counterfeit medicines in pharmacies and patent medicine shops.
According to Dr. Waheed Afolayan, the state’s Malaria Programme Officer, malaria continues to overwhelm Nigeria’s healthcare system. He highlighted that Nigeria accounts for 25 per cent of global malaria cases and 30 per cent of malaria deaths worldwide, with children under five and pregnant women being the most vulnerable.
WHO figures show that in 2022, Nigeria recorded 66.7 million malaria cases and 189,000 deaths, underscoring the urgent need for preventive measures like ITN distribution.
Health experts warn that malaria risks could worsen due to climate change, growing insecticide resistance, and shrinking donor funding, making local interventions like Ondo’s campaign critical for saving lives.
