In a recent media engagement in Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State, Mr. John Ocholi, the Project Director for Global Fund Malaria at the Society for Family Health, announced an ambitious initiative to distribute over 3.1 million Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs) to households across the state. He highlighted a concerning statistic: Ogun State currently records only a 30% usage rate of ITNs, which is significantly low compared to national expectations.
“The focus of this campaign is primarily on pregnant women and children under five years of age,” Ocholi explained. This project is a collaborative effort involving various partners, including the National Malaria Elimination Programme and Catholic Relief Services, all working together to combat malaria and ultimately position Nigeria as the third malaria-free nation in Africa.
Ocholi emphasized that the free distribution of ITNs is aimed at addressing the malaria crisis with the goal of achieving a zero-pandemic status similar to that of Egypt and Cape Verde. He outlined a phased approach to the campaign, starting with mobilizing households across all 20 local government areas and establishing fixed-point distribution centers for the nets.
Highlighting the effectiveness of ITNs, Ocholi stated, “Since the introduction of insecticide-treated nets, malaria prevalence has decreased from 45% in 2010 to 27% in 2015. By 2021 and 2022, it reduced further to between 21 and 22%, which means that today, only two out of ten individuals test positive for malaria.”
He also noted the economic benefits of using ITNs, suggesting that reduced malaria incidences can alleviate the financial burden of medical expenses, allowing families to allocate more resources towards essentials like food, housing, and education.
With a workforce of 14,000 personnel and 1,400 distribution points, Ocholi urged media involvement in raising awareness about the campaign. However, he clarified that the distribution would be targeted; areas with lower malaria prevalence would not receive nets, though pregnant women and children in these regions can obtain their nets from local health facilities.
“The priority will be on rural areas where the risk of malaria is significantly higher,” Ocholi added, encouraging families to register for the ITNs when the registration period opens.
Dr. Olubukola Omotosho, the State Health Educator, indicated that the household registration and mobilization phase would run from October 31 to November 6, 2024, with net distribution starting on November 19. She explained that during registration, a token or net card would be issued for each household to collect their nets.
Daniel Gbue, the Media Communication Manager, emphasized the severity of the malaria crisis, noting that malaria claims nine lives every hour globally, with one in five fatalities occurring in Nigeria. He highlighted the impact of malaria on absenteeism in schools and workplaces, calling on the community to partner with the government and organizations to promote the use of ITNs and maintain a clean, healthy environment to eliminate the threat of malaria effectively.
