War Against Malaria: Oyo Govt to Distribute 5.674m Mosquito Nets

Korede Abdullah in Lagos

The Oyo State government has announced plans to distribute 5.674 million mosquito insecticidal-treated nets to reduce malaria infections, particularly among mothers and children.

This initiative is part of the state’s efforts to combat malaria, which remains a significant public health concern.

According to Oyo State Malaria Officer, Mrs. Foluke Adeyemo on Wednesday, the distribution of the nets, worth N31.5 billion, will take place in the 33 local government areas of the state in 2025.

The distribution of the mosquito nets is expected to be seamless, thanks to a two-day training on Oyo State ITN mass campaign microplanning for local government technical assistants.

Mrs. Adeyemo emphasized the need for awareness on the use of insecticidal-treated nets (ITNs) in the community, stressing that sensitization should not end with acquiring the net. Rather, the utilization of the nets is crucial in preventing malaria and reducing its incidence in the state.

According to her, “We need to do more awareness on ITN use in the community; the sensitisation should not end with acquiring the net. Its utilisation is paramount to us. That is when it can have an impact on malaria prevention and reduce the incidence of malaria in the state.”

Oyo State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, represented by Mr. Zaccheaus Jayeola, highlighted the importance of ensuring a hitch-free ITN campaign. He emphasized the need for total commitment and involvement from everyone to achieve the target goal.

According to the commissioner, “We need the involvement and total commitment of everybody to ensure that we have a better result than we had in 2021. Everybody here is important. So let’s all work together to achieve the target goal.”