No fewer than 2,897,443 Insecticide-Treated Mosquito Nets (ITNs) will be distributed to households across Osun State as part of a renewed campaign to combat malaria.
The exercise, spearheaded by the Osun State Government, is being carried out in partnership with the National Malaria Elimination Programme, Catholic Relief Services, the Society for Family Health, and other malaria-focused organisations, with financial support from the Global Fund Malaria.
Speaking to journalists in Osogbo on Tuesday, the campaign’s Logistics Advisor, Simeon Ibvori, explained that the nets are intended to replace those distributed during the previous campaign in 2023.
He disclosed that the ITNs are currently being moved from the state warehouse to local government distribution centres and hubs across the state in preparation for the exercise.
According to him, the distribution will focus particularly on rural communities where malaria prevalence remains high.
“A total of 2,897,443 ITNs will be distributed to the people of Osun State. The objective of the ITN mass campaign is to ensure that for every 2 people, there is one bed net to sleep under.
“We do this every three years, and this campaign is to replace the nets we gave out in 2023. After collecting the nets, residents must air them under a shade for 24 hours before hanging and sleeping inside,” Ibvori noted.
He encouraged residents to take advantage of the programme by collecting the nets when distribution begins, stressing that they are meant to protect people from malaria infection.
“I want to appeal to the good people of Osun State to go out once the distribution has started to collect their net. The idea is to replace the new nets with the old ones. The nets are meant to be used and not for sale. It is free of charge.
“The residents should also respect the health workers during the distribution and allow them to do their job. They have been trained and are fully equipped with the right information,” Ibvori added.
During the last campaign in 2023, approximately 3.68 million insecticide-treated nets were distributed across the state.
Also speaking, the Osun State Manager of the Malaria Elimination Programme, Dr Olufemi Oroge, revealed that more than 200 million nets have been distributed since the programme began several years ago.
Oroge made the disclosure during a one-day orientation programme for selected journalists organised by the Society for Family Health in collaboration with the Osun State Ministry of Health.
He further explained that insecticide-treated nets generally have a lifespan of between one and four years.
