Kogi To Distribute Three Million Treated Nets To Curb Malaria

By Habibatullah Onakpa Abdallah

The Kogi State Ministry of Health has renewed its commitment to malaria prevention in the state.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Abdulazeez Adeiza, gave the assurance in Lokoja during the inauguration of the Insecticide Treated Net Campaign Coordination Committee.

Adeiza, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr Enoch Maji, said the inauguration of the committee was part of preparations for the 2026 statewide Insecticide Treated Net mass campaign.

He said the campaign would distribute three million insecticide-treated mosquito nets to households across the state to prevent malaria and achieve universal health coverage.

He commended the Malaria Consortium and Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for supporting the programme and ensuring its success, and appealed to members of the committee to justify the confidence reposed in them by ensuring the success of the exercise.

The committee, which is chaired by the Commissioner for Health, is expected to facilitate social mobilisation, advocacy, strategic and risk communication, community engagement, coordinate security arrangements for personnel and campaign materials, and monitor implementation across the state.

In his presentation on the overview of the 2026 ITN campaign, Dr Steven Ake, explained that a maximum of four insecticide-treated nets would be given to each household during the exercise.

He called for intensive public enlightenment and community engagement before, during and after the distribution of the treated nets to ensure proper use and sustained behavioural change.