By Rotimi Odofin
LOKOJA — Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, on Saturday flagged off the distribution of three,810,985 insecticide-treated mosquito nets to 1,130,935 households throughout the state, as Malaria Consortium adorned the First Lady, Hajia Sefinat Usman Ododo, as Kogi State Ambassador for Insecticide-Treated Nets (ITNs).
The 2026 ITN Mass Distribution Campaign, launched on the Government House, Lokoja, is predicted to cowl all 21 native authorities areas and strengthen efforts to curb malaria, one of many main causes of sickness and hospital visits within the state.
Governor Ododo, who was represented by the State Commissioner for Health, Hon. Adams Adeiza, described malaria as a significant menace to public well being and financial productiveness, significantly amongst youngsters beneath 5 and pregnant ladies.
He mentioned the illness contributes considerably to maternal problems, miscarriages, low delivery weight and anaemia, whereas additionally imposing monetary burdens on households by means of remedy prices and lack of productiveness.
According to the governor, the marketing campaign, being applied in partnership with Malaria Consortium, is designed to broaden malaria prevention and shield households throughout the state.
Distribution of the nets is scheduled to start on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, and run for eight days, with educated personnel anticipated to maneuver from home to deal with and group to group to succeed in eligible households.
“Let me be clear: This net is for every household in Kogi State. No ward, community or village will be left behind,” Ododo mentioned.
He urged residents to gather their allotted nets, dangle them correctly and be certain that each member of their households sleeps beneath them each evening.
The governor warned in opposition to the sale, diversion or misuse of the nets for fishing and farming, describing them as vital instruments in defending households from malaria.
He additionally referred to as on conventional rulers, spiritual leaders, ladies and youth teams to mobilise their communities for the train, whereas charging well being staff, distribution groups and supervisors to uphold transparency, equity and accountability.
Ododo mentioned his administration wouldn’t tolerate the diversion of mosquito nets and counseled Malaria Consortium for its technical experience, logistics assist and dedication to the success of the marketing campaign.
He expressed confidence that the initiative would assist scale back malaria-related deaths, hospital visits and the monetary burden of remedy on households.
Speaking on the occasion, the West and Central Africa Programmes Director of Malaria Consortium, Dr Kolawole Maxwell, described the marketing campaign as a significant funding within the well being and wellbeing of Kogi residents.
He mentioned the organisation, in partnership with the Kogi State Government and the National Malaria Elimination Programme, had procured roughly 4 million WHO-recommended insecticide-treated nets for distribution throughout the state’s 21 native authorities areas and 239 wards.
Maxwell disclosed that 6,404 personnel had been educated and mobilised for the train, including that each family could be registered and each internet tracked to make sure accountability.
He defined that the nets comprise two energetic elements — pyrethroid and chlorfenapyr — designed to supply safety even in areas the place mosquitoes have developed resistance to older pesticides.
Maxwell burdened that the success of the marketing campaign wouldn’t be measured solely by the variety of nets distributed, however by how persistently and appropriately households use them.
He urged residents to welcome distribution groups, acquire their allotted nets and be certain that all members of the family, significantly youngsters beneath 5 and pregnant ladies, sleep beneath them each evening.
In her acceptance remarks, the First Lady and newly adorned ITN Ambassador, Hajia Sefinat Usman Ododo, represented by the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Acharu Okpanachi, thanked Malaria Consortium, the state authorities and different companions for the honour.
She pledged to take the malaria prevention marketing campaign to all 21 native authorities areas, wards, communities and households throughout the state.
“As your Net Ambassador, I make you this promise: I will not just wear this title. I will carry this message to every Local Government Area, to every ward, to every community, and to every household in Kogi State,” she mentioned.
The First Lady appealed to fathers and husbands to take accountability for shielding their households and urged ladies to take the lead in guaranteeing the constant use of insecticide-treated nets.
Goodwill messages have been delivered by the previous Permanent Secretary of the Kogi State Ministry of Health, Alhaji S.O. Aliyu, representatives of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), the Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN), the Nigerian Medical Association, the Kogi State Hospital Management Board and different stakeholders.
The highpoint of the ceremony was the formal ornament and investiture of Hajia Sefinat Usman Ododo as Kogi State ITN Ambassador by Malaria Consortium, in recognition of her dedication to selling malaria prevention and inspiring households throughout the state to embrace the constant use of insecticide-treated nets.
