By Fatima Mohammed-Lawal
The Kwara Government had commenced the distribution of Insecticide Treated Nets (ITN) across the 16 Local Government Area of Kwara.
The Wife of Kwara Governor, Prof. Olufolake AbdulRazaq disclosed this on Tuesday in Ilorin in her opening remark at the Flag-Off of the Integrated Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention Mass Campaign (SMC)/ITN 2026 Campaign.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the programme is organised by the Kwara Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare; as well as other Partners.
AbdulRazaq noted that Malaria remains one of the greatest health challenges facing the nation, adding that it continues to disproportionately affect pregnant women and children.
According to her, Nigeria bears approximately 24.3 percent of the global malaria burden.
“In Kwara alone, over 807,324 children under the age of five depend on us to protect them from this preventable and treatable disease.
“The health and wellbeing of our children is no doubt the foundation of every happy family and every prosperous society, hence every child deserves the opportunity to grow up healthy, attend school regularly, and realize their full potential,” she said.
AbdulRazaq explained that the integrated campaign brings to the communities two proven and highly effective malaria prevention interventions.
She explained that about 2 million ITN will be distributed free of charge across all communities in the State to ensure that every household has access to this life-saving protection.
The Governor’s wife pointed out that owning a net is only the first step, while the real protection comes when the net is properly hung, and every member of the household sleeps under it every night.
“At the same time, eligible children aged three to 59 months in the designated LGAs will receive SMC medicines during the 2026 malaria transmission season.
AbdulRazaq added these medicines stand to provide an additional layer of protection, significantly reducing malaria infections, severe illness, hospital admissions, and deaths among young children.
She assured that both the ITN and SMC medicines are safe, effective, scientifically proven and provided completely free of charge.
“I therefore, appeal to our traditional rulers, religious leaders, community leaders, women’s groups, parents and caregivers to warmly welcome our healthcare workers and community volunteers as they visit your communities and homes,” she appealed.
Also in her welcoming address, the Kwara Commissioner for Health, Dr Amina El-Imam stated that the initiative marks another significant milestone in the State’s collective efforts to eliminate malaria as a major public health challenge.
She pointed out that the State remains a beacon of hope in Nigeria’s fight against malaria under the visionary and proactive leadership of Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
“This year, we shall be distributing 2,086,568 ITNs across 766,469 households and Sulfadoxine Pyrimethamine Amodiaquine (SPAQ) to 665,057 children under five years of age.
“This integrated campaign is a strategic response towards building a Resilient and Sustainable System for Health (RSSH).
“The ITN Mass Campaign seeks to achieve universal household coverage through the free distribution of quality long-lasting insecticidal nets across all 16 LGAs.
El-Imam explained that the programme consists of four monthly treatment cycles during the peak malaria season, beginning with a supervised first dose of SPAQ, followed by Amodiaquine on the second and third days.
“Every year, this intervention provides additional protection to over 600,000 children, significantly reducing malaria episodes, severe illness, hospital admissions and preventable deaths,” she said.
Also speaking, the National Coordinator, National Malaria Elimination Programme, Dr. Nnenna Ogbulafor explained that the integrated campaign marks a vital step in the continued commitment of the Federal Government of Nigeria and its partners to protecting every citizen of Nigeria.
Ogbulafor who was represented by Mrs Mary Esema, the Head of Integrated Vector Management, noted that the intervention is crucial to the vulnerable population including children under five years of age and pregnant women against malaria through the ownership and consistent use of ITNs.
“Malaria is a disease that has had a profound impact on the health and prosperity of millions of Nigerians.
“Since 2011, over 7.4 million ITNs have been distributed across the State through mass distribution campaigns,” she said
Ogbulafor further explained that the 2026 campaign will integrate community-based childhood TB screening with the ongoing integration of ITN distribution and SPAQ administration across the 11 integrated LGAs in the state.