Minna (Nigeria): The National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) states that it has distributed over 320 million Insecticide-Treated Nets (ITNs) and 450 million blisters of Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine-Amodiaquine (SPAQ) to children under five years old since 2009.
Dr Nnenna Ogbulafor, National Coordinator of NMEP, made this known in Minna during the inauguration of the 2025 mass campaign for distributing nets in Minna on Thursday.
The campaign is being conducted in collaboration with the Global Fund, Catholic Relief Services, the Malaria Consortium, and the Society for Family Health.
Ogbulafor, represented by Mrs Mary Esema, Head of Integrated Vector Management at NMEP, stated that the interventions had significantly contributed to reducing malaria prevalence and the under-five mortality rate nationwide.
She stated that the ITN mass campaign, which commenced in 2009, and the introduction of SPAQ in 2013 had positioned Nigeria as a leader in malaria prevention efforts in sub-Saharan Africa.
“These efforts reflect the Federal Government’s commitment, alongside its partners, to protect vulnerable populations, especially children and pregnant women, from malaria,” she said.
She commended the Nigerian government for demonstrating strong leadership and commitment in the fight against malaria, noting that more than 11.4 million ITNs had been distributed in the state since 2009.
Earlier, Dr Ibrahim Idris, Director of Public Health, Ministry of Secondary Health, said the campaign was part of the government’s continued efforts to reduce the malaria burden to a pre-elimination level in Niger.
Idris said malaria remained one of the leading public health challenges in the state, with a prevalence rate of 21 per cent, contributing significantly to the country’s 68 million annual cases.
He explained that about 3.2 million ITNs would be distributed to households, while over 1.5 million children would receive monthly doses of SPAQ to prevent malaria during the rainy season.
“The goal of this integrated campaign is to ensure universal coverage and at least 80 per cent utilisation of treated nets in all communities,” Idris said.
Also speaking, Dr Abdullahi Imam, Permanent Secretary, Niger Ministry of Health, said the state government under Gov. Umaru Bago had prioritised the health of residents, particularly women and children.
He noted that the administration had provided an enabling environment for development partners to implement key health interventions, including the malaria campaign and Vitamin A distribution.
Similarly, Mr Ayuba Apagu, State Programme Manager at the Malaria Consortium, who spoke on behalf of the development partners, said the campaign marked another milestone in the collective efforts to make Niger malaria-free.
“Let every net hug be a barrier of protection and a promise of health for our children. We urge all residents to support this exercise and encourage those with e-token slips to collect their nets,” he said.
Dr Mustapha Jibrin, Chairman-elect of Chanchaga Local Government, pledged the council’s support to ensure full compliance at the grassroots.
He urged residents to make good use of the nets, stressing that they were for sleeping, not for protecting farm products.
The ceremony also featured the decoration of Ibrahim Sale Majinyawa, Secretary to the Chanchaga Local Government, as Malaria Advocate of the council.
