The State Governor, Rt. Honourable Sheriff Oborevwori has flagged off the distribution of the insecticide-treated nets replacement mass campaign with a call on stakeholders to be more committed in defeating malaria in the state and country at large.

The exercise, which will see the distribution of 3.1 million insecticide-treated nets across the state, held at the Event Centre, Asaba.

The event attracted dignitaries, including a representative of the Deputy Governor, some commissioners, partners, and community leaders among others.

The Governor’s address, read by the Deputy Chief of Staff, Government House, Sir Chris Osakwe, said the malaria prevalence rate in Delta State stood at 10%, which was commendable, but there was a need for intensified efforts until malaria was totally eliminated.

He noted that Nigeria accounted for approximately 25% of Africa’s malaria burden, while the 2015 Nigeria Malaria Indicator Survey revealed that the national prevalence dropped to 27% from 42% in 2010.

Governor Oborevwori said Nigeria recorded nearly 110 million clinically diagnosed cases annually, stressing that malaria was responsible for about 30% of child deaths and 11% of maternal deaths in the country each year.

The Governor affirmed that malaria remained one of the most common and preventable public health issues, as it had continued to claim the lives of the vulnerable, especially children under 5 and pregnant women.

He thanked partners for their efforts in combating the malaria scourge, stressing that his administration was determined to eliminate malaria in collaboration with partners.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, represented by Mr. Raphael Onyinlo, noted that malaria remained a major public health challenge in Nigeria, saying the country contributed about 27% to the global malaria burden, 31% of global deaths, and currently has a prevalence of 22% in the country.

The Delta State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Onojaeme, said the flag-off was a clarion call for action as it marked a renewed commitment to protect Deltans from the scourge of malaria through the widespread distribution of insecticide-treated nets.

The National Coordinator, National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), Dr. Nnenna Ogbulafor, represented by Dr. Mary Esema, said the campaign marked a vital step in the unwavering commitment of the federal government and its partners to safeguard every citizen of Nigeria, especially the most vulnerable, against the devastating effects of malaria by promoting the ownership and consistent use of ITNs.

Representatives of partners, including the Catholic Relief Services, Society for Family Health (Mr. John Ocholie), BASF (Dr. Godwin Aidengbon), and the World Health Organization (WHO), said the flag-off was a symbol of state ownership, mobilization, and demonstration that the nets are safe and good to use.

They said over 3.2 million nets would be distributed and urged the people to use the nets in order to curb diseases associated with mosquitoes, adding that the insecticide-treated nets were part of the control measures to fight malaria.

The State Health Educator, Ministry of Health, Mr. Emmanuel Odejerho, who spoke in pidgin on how to use the nets without harming their health, advised the people not to misuse the nets.

The highlight of the event was the demonstration of how to sleep inside the net by the Governor’s representative and the presentation of the nets.