Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa will on Monday, September 8, begin the rollout of 3.6 million insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) across the state in a campaign aimed at combating malaria.
Gatekeepers News reports that the initiative, which will run until September 17, is a joint effort of Ondo State Ministry of Health, National Malaria Elimination Programme, and Malaria Consortium.
Health Commissioner Banji Ajaka highlighted that malaria prevalence in the state currently stands at 27 percent, making the exercise crucial.
All households are expected to benefit, with trained officials visiting homes to register residents and distribute the nets.
Ajaka urged households to use the nets properly, noting their proven effectiveness in reducing malaria transmission.
He also disclosed that the government is strengthening measures against counterfeit drugs by equipping health inspectors with scanners to verify medicines in pharmacies and patent shops.
State Malaria Programme Officer, Waheed Afolayan, described malaria as one of Nigeria’s leading health burdens, accounting for a significant share of global cases and deaths.
He emphasised that young children and pregnant women remain the most vulnerable, with the disease responsible for most hospital cases and contributing heavily to poverty rates.
Afolayan added that billions of naira are spent annually on prevention and treatment, stressing that tackling malaria is vital to easing pressure on households and the wider economy.
