Delta State Government has commenced the distribution of 3.182 million insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) across the 25 local government areas of the state.

The state Ministry of Health Programme Manager for Malaria, Dr. Julie Aniah, announced this yesterday at a one-day media training held in Asaba, the State capital.

Dr. Aniah said the State Ministry of Health and National Malaria Elimination Program (NMEP) are working round the clock to carry out the mass campaign for malaria elimination exercise within 44 days.

She noted that the government is desirous to prevent malaria with special emphasis on the use of ITNs and urged journalists to develop interest in the malaria elimination campaign and activities to create awareness in the large society.

The Campaign Manager, Society for Family Health, Mr. Gbue Denen Daniel, said evidence has shown that Nigeria accounts for nearly 110 million clinically diagnosed cases yearly, which is an estimated 30 percent of child and 11 percent maternal deaths each due to malaria.

“Malaria is the most common preventable public health problem in Nigeria, yet it takes a lethal toll of 97 percent of Nigerians, especially children under five years of age and pregnant women.

“It is the commonest cause of absenteeism from school, offices, farms, markets, and others, resulting in lower productivity.

“In addition to the direct health impact, it also exerts a huge social and economic burden on our communities and country. Billions of naira are lost yearly in form of treatment cost, prevention, and loss of man hours.

“Over 31 million estimated cases of malaria occur annually in Nigeria. So, it can be prevented by not allowing mosquitoes to bite us, and one assured way is to sleep inside a properly hung net every night,” he advised.

He further disclosed that hope is not lost as evidence abounds of reduction in malaria prevalence in Nigeria, and cautioned mosquito net users to wash it with mild soap when dirty, as well as desist from using detergent to wash treated nets.