Obot Akara LGA Flags Off 2026 Mosquito Net Campaign, Rallies Residents Against Malaria

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Rt. Hon. Simon Dominic Akpan, the Executive Chairman of Obot Akara Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, has called on residents to take full advantage of the 2026 Insecticide-Treated Nets (ITN) Distribution Campaign, describing the initiative as a critical intervention aimed at reducing malaria-related illnesses and deaths across communities in the council area.

Speaking during the official flag-off of the exercise at the Primary Health Centre, Nto Edino, on Saturday, Akpan said the campaign demonstrates the commitment of the Federal Government, Akwa Ibom State Government and the Obot Akara Local Government Council to protecting the health and well-being of citizens through preventive healthcare.

The council chairman, who welcomed representatives of the State Ministry of Health, officials of the State Malaria Elimination Programme, traditional rulers, political office holders, healthcare professionals, development partners, women and youth groups, amd other stakeholders, described malaria as one of the most persistent public health challenges confronting families in Nigeria.

He said despite medical advances, malaria continues to claim lives, particularly among pregnant women and children under the age of five, making preventive measures such as the use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets indispensable.

As he urged residents to participate actively in the distribution exercise and ensure the mosquito nets are properly installed and used every night, Rt. Hon Akpan emphasised that the campaign would only achieve its desired impact if beneficiaries put the nets to regular use.

“The distribution of these nets is not merely a government programme. It is a life-saving intervention. Every household should take ownership of this initiative by ensuring that every eligible member of the family sleeps under a treated net consistently,” he said.

He commended the Federal Government, the Akwa Ibom State Government, the State Ministry of Health, the State Malaria Elimination Programme and development partners for sustaining efforts to reduce malaria prevalence through strategic public health interventions.

Earlier in her welcome address, Nurse Deborah Inyang Effiong, the Director of Health, Obot Akara Local Government Council, said the campaign represents a renewed commitment by government and its partners to intensify the fight against malaria, one of the leading causes of illness and death in many communities.

She noted that insecticide-treated nets remain one of the most effective, affordable and globally recommended strategies for preventing malaria transmission, adding that their proper and consistent use has significantly reduced infections in many parts of the country.

Nurse Effiong appealed to community leaders, healthcare workers, volunteers and other stakeholders to ensure transparency, fairness and efficiency in the distribution process so that every eligible household benefits from the programme.

She also urged beneficiaries to go beyond collecting the nets by ensuring they are correctly hung and used every night, explaining that the health benefits of the intervention can only be realised through consistent usage.

“Ownership of a mosquito net alone is not enough. The real protection comes when it is properly installed and slept under every night. We must therefore encourage behavioural change alongside distribution if we truly want to eliminate malaria from our communities,” she said.

The health director expressed appreciation to the State Ministry of Health, the State Malaria Elimination Programme, development partners and healthcare personnel for their support towards the successful rollout of the campaign. She particularly lauded the Executive Chairman for prioritising healthcare delivery and providing the leadership that made the exercise possible.

Effiong called on residents to become ambassadors of the campaign by educating neighbours, relatives and members of their communities on the importance of sleeping under insecticide-treated nets, describing the collective fight against malaria as a shared responsibility.

In separate goodwill messages, the Vice Chairman of the Council, Hon. Pastor Mercy Leo Okure; the Council Secretary, Comrade Joseph Akpan; the Dean of Supervisors, Hon. Friday Ebom; and the representative of the Paramount Ruler, Prince Ekemini Uwa Umoh, applauded the initiative, saying it would improve the quality of life of residents and reduce the burden of malaria in Obot Akara.

The speakers commended the Federal and State Governments for extending the intervention to grassroots communities and urged residents to support the campaign by making proper use of the mosquito nets.

The flag-off ceremony attracted a large gathering of government officials, councillors, supervisors, traditional rulers, religious leaders, security agencies, members of the Health Management Team, youth and women leaders, healthcare professionals and representatives of development partners, all of whom pledged their commitment to ensuring the success of the campaign.

The 2026 Insecticide-Treated Nets Distribution Campaign forms part of broader efforts by health authorities to accelerate malaria prevention, improve community health outcomes and move Nigeria closer to achieving its malaria elimination targets through sustained public awareness and increased access to preventive healthcare interventions.