Ondo, FG to share 3.6m mosquito nets for malaria fight

The Ondo State Government, in collaboration with the Federal Government, is set to distribute a total of 3.6 million Insecticide-Treated Nets across the state, in a bid to prevent malaria.

Specifically, it was gathered that the programme was in partnership with the National Malaria Elimination Programme of the FG and the Malaria Consortium.

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Banji Ajaka, who spoke on Thursday in Akure during a media orientation on the 2025 Insecticide-Treated Nets campaign in the state, said the malaria campaign was necessary to prevent the disease, urging media organisations to intensify their support for anti-malaria programmes.

He said, “In order to reduce the burden of malaria in the state, the State’s Ministry of Health Malaria Elimination Programme, in collaboration with the National Malaria Elimination Programme, Malaria Consortium, is to distribute over 3.6 million INTs to every household.

Sleeping inside an ITN is one of the best ways to prevent malaria, as studies show that the use of ITNs reduces malaria incidence by 50 per cent in sub-Saharan Africa, in a region which accounts for more than 90 per cent of global cases.

“Distribution of the free nets will commence from Sept. 8 to Sept. 17. Persons wearing uniforms with the malaria logo will visit the households to register and distribute free nets to each household.

“Once collected, air the new nets for 24 hours in the shade before hanging. Once hung, beneficiaries should sleep inside with the nets well tucked over the sleeping area every night.”

The commissioner, however, lamented the high rate of fake drugs in the state, saying the government was ready to tackle the menace. He disclosed that the government had acquired scanning machines to detect counterfeit drugs in pharmacies and patent medicine shops across the state.

The Federal Government, often supported by global partners such as the Global Fund, USAID, and WHO, has consistently launched nationwide distribution of ITNs, but challenges remain with usage, sustainability, and the threat of drug resistance.

The latest ITN campaign in Ondo comes at a time when public health experts are warning of a possible resurgence of malaria due to climate change, rising resistance to insecticides, and declining funding for preventive programmes.