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Malaria Consortium Targets Zero Malaria in Abia. —–Maxwell Hails Resumption of Treated Net Campaign After Over 10 Years.
Malaria Consortium Targets Zero Malaria in Abia. —–Maxwell Hails Resumption of Treated Net Campaign After Over 10 Years.
Malaria Consortium Targets Zero Malaria in Abia.
—–Maxwell Hails Resumption of Treated Net Campaign After Over 10 Years.
The Malaria Consortium has expressed optimism that Abia State could become a model for malaria elimination in Nigeria following the flag-off of the 2026 Insecticide-Treated Net (ITN) Campaign after more than a decade without a mass distribution exercise.
The Regional Programmes Director for West and Central Africa of the Malaria Consortium, Mr Kolawole Maxwell, stated this while speaking with newsmen shortly after the flag-off ceremony held at the International Conference Centre, Ogurube Layout, Umuahia.
Maxwell described the campaign as a significant milestone for the Abia State Government and its people, noting that insecticide-treated nets remained an important preventive tool in the global fight against malaria.
He said the distribution of the nets would complement other health interventions and health system strengthening initiatives being implemented by the administration of Governor Alex Chioma Otti.
According to him, the renewed campaign has raised hopes of achieving further reductions in malaria infections and moving the state closer to eliminating the disease.
Maxwell noted that Abia had made progress in reducing malaria prevalence to 11 per cent, but said there was still room for improvement, considering that some states in Nigeria had recorded prevalence levels as low as two per cent.
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He expressed confidence that Abia could achieve similar progress, adding that the experience of states that had recorded lower prevalence showed that malaria elimination was an attainable goal.
“ If one or two states can do it, it is possible for Abia to be the state that will be zero,” he said.
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The Malaria Consortium director explained that the goal of malaria control efforts had shifted from merely managing the disease to eliminating it, stressing the need for sustained preventive measures and public participation.
He expressed optimism that the distribution and proper use of insecticide-treated nets, alongside other government interventions, would accelerate the state’s progress towards a malaria-free future.
Maxwell further expressed the hope that Abia could become one of the leading examples of malaria elimination in Nigeria, potentially emerging as the first state in the country to achieve the feat.
The 2026 ITN campaign is expected to cover all 17 local government areas of Abia State, with free nets distributed to households to help prevent mosquito bites and reduce malaria transmission.
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