Osun Flags Off 2026 ITN Campaign, Targets Distribution Of Over 2.8M Mosquito Nets To Households
The Osun State Government, on Wednesday, officially flagged off the 2026 Insecticide-Treated Nets (ITN) Mass Distribution Campaign, with plans to distribute over 2.8 million mosquito nets to households across the state as part of efforts to reduce malaria prevalence.
The state governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, said the initiative marked the commencement of house-to-house distribution of insecticide-treated nets across all communities in Osun State.
The flag-off ceremony, held at the Local Government Service Commission hall, Abere, was organised by the Osun State Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health, Catholic Relief Services (CRS), and the Society for Family Health (SFH).
The governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Health, Barrister Jola Akintola, described the campaign as a critical public health intervention aimed at protecting residents from malaria and sustaining the significant gains already recorded in the fight against the disease.
According to him, a total of 2,897,443 insecticide-treated nets will be distributed across the state, demonstrating the government’s commitment to safeguarding the health of its citizens.
He noted that malaria prevalence in Osun State has declined from 33.4 per cent in 2015 to 12.9 percent in 2025 through sustained investments, improved diagnosis and treatment, community mobilisation, and increased use of insecticide-treated nets.
The Governor further disclosed that, “malaria remains one of the leading causes of illness and death in many parts of Africa. However, through sustained investments and evidence-based interventions, significant progress is being achieved.
“In Osun State, we are proud of the gains made over the last decade. Malaria prevalence has declined significantly from 33.4 percent in 2015 to 12.9 percent in 2025. This achievement reflects the effectiveness of interventions such as the distribution and use of insecticide-treated nets, improved access to malaria diagnosis and treatment, seasonal community mobilization activities, and the dedication of our health workforce and development partners.
“While we celebrate this progress, we recognize that much work remains to be done. Every malaria case prevented means fewer hospital visits, fewer deaths, lower healthcare costs for families, improved school attendance for children and increased productivity for our communities.
“With this flag-off, trained distribution teams will begin the house-to-house delivery of insecticide-treated nets to households throughout the State. This strategy ensures that families receive their nets directly and are provided with information on their proper installation, use and maintenanc.
“I therefore call on all residents of Osun State to cooperate fully with the distribution teams when they visit your homes. Please receive the nets, ask questions where necessary and most importantly, ensure that every member of your household sleeps under a net every night. The effectiveness of this campaign will not be measured solely by the number of nets distributed, but by the number of lives protected through their consistent use.
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Governor Adeleke appreciated the support of development partners, including the Roll Back Malaria Partnership, Global Fund, National Malaria Elimination Programme, Catholic Relief Services, Society for Family Health, and the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, for their continued contributions to malaria control efforts.
Olamilekan Adigun is a graduate of Mass Communication with years of experience in journalism embedded in uncovering human interest stories. He also prioritises accuracy and factual reportage of issues.
