As part of efforts to fight the transmission of malaria infection, the Ogun State Government, and other malaria partners are set to distribute 3.1 million insecticide treated nets, ITNs to households across the twenty local governments in the state.

The distribution of the insecticide-treated nets is said to commence on November 19.

Speaking aon Monday in Abeokuta, Dr. Olubukola Omotosho said the initiative was to provide treated mosquito nets for the residents of the state as a way to reduce malaria in the state.

She explained that the net household mobilization and registration will commence on 31st October to 6th November, while the net distribution will commence on 19th to 23rd of November.

Omotosho hinted that during the registration, the mobiliser would generate a token or net card which each household will use to collect the nets when the distribution begins.

She appealed to the practicing journalists to gain insight into insecticide treated nets, motivate them in the coverage and reporting on the campaign.

On his parts, the Project Director, Global Fund Malaria, SFH, Mr John Ocholi, decried the low level of insecticide treated nets usage in Ogun , saying that the state currently records low percentage usage.

He said residents as a matter of urgency need to start making use of their mosquito nets to prevent themselves from malaria, encouraging families and children to make use of their nets in their various homes.

Mr Ocholi submitted that the essence of the free distribution of the treated nets was to combat the scourge of Malaria and make the country achieve zero pandemic just like Egypt, Algeria and Cape Verde in Africa.

He added that the use of ITN would help a lot to reduce financial burden committed to medical care of Malaria and therefore makes more resources available for the household to take care of other basic needs like feeding, accommodation, schooling among others.

His words “it is against this background that in partnership with Ogun State government, 3.1million insecticide treated nets will be distributed to household across the state.

“We have 14,000 personnel that will help with this exercise and 1,400 distribution points for collection of these nets and so we urged the media to help us spread this information to create maximum awareness”

“The Project Director however disclosed further that the ITN distribution will be targeted and therefore household or settlements in areas where the prevalence of Malaria is deemed lower according to the available data will not get these nets.”

Ocholi stated that pregnant women and children under five years in these priortised local governments or areas will be asked to go to the government health facilities around them for their nets.

Ocholi stated that pregnant women and children under five years in these priortised local governments or areas will be asked to go to the government health facilities around them for their nets.

The project director also hinted that that the distribution of the net will focus much more on the rural areas and communities where the risk of the disease is higher.

According to him “The message here is that families, households should register for the ITN when the registration begins and go for the collection. They should collect it, follow all the instructions and should sleep in it to protect them from mosquito bite and together we can win the war against Malaria”.

“People with old or damaged nets have also been told to come with them whenever they are coming to receive their new nets. This is to ensure that the old nets are properly disposed through recycling.”

The beneficiaries were urged to air the new nets under a shade for 24 hours before sleeping inside it to avoid any discomfort.

Also speaking, the Media Communication Manager of the group, Daniel Gbue, revealed that Malaria kills nine people every hour in the world and that for every five deaths caused by Malaria, one is from Nigeria.

Gbue also said that Malaria has been found to be common cause of absenteeism in schools and offices.

He therefore said people need as a matter of urgency join hands with the government at all levels and other partnering organisations to embrace the use of the ITN while also embracing a clean and healthy environment to battle scourge of Malaria to a standstill.