Bauchi Begins Distribution of 4.8m Mosquito Nets to Protect 9.9m Residents

From Paul Orude Bauchi 

The Bauchi State Government has commenced the distribution of 4.8 million insecticide-treated mosquito nets (ITNs) to households across the state as part of renewed efforts to curb malaria infections.

The campaign, which covers all 20 Local Government Areas of the state, is expected to provide protection to about 9.9 million residents.

The exercise was formally launched by Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed at the Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu Hall of the Sir Ahmadu Bello International Conference Centre, Bauchi.

Represented by his Deputy, Rt. Hon. Muhammad Auwal Jatau, the governor said the distribution would run from September 27 to October 3, 2026.

He urged residents to ensure that the nets are received by the appropriate members of their households, properly hung and used consistently every night.

The governor specifically stressed the importance of children and pregnant women sleeping under the treated nets, noting that regular use remains an important preventive measure against malaria.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Sani Mohammed Dambam, said the state government had continued to provide financial support for health interventions aimed at improving the wellbeing of its people.

Dambam disclosed that Governor Mohammed had approved more than N230 million as counterpart funding for the campaign. He also cautioned against any attempt to divert the mosquito nets or other commodities meant for beneficiaries.

The Executive Chairman of the Bauchi State Environmental Protection and Public Health Agency (BACATMA), Dr Adamu Umar Sambo, said malaria prevalence in the state had fallen from over 34 per cent in previous years to 17.8 per cent, citing findings from the latest national indicators survey.

Damboa said that the quantity of nets allocated for the exercise is sufficient to provide at least one net for every two residents. He added that 1,903 distribution points had been established across the state to facilitate the exercise.

The representative of Global Health Supply Chain, Procurement and Supply Management, Jury Bako, said approximately 17,900 members of local communities would participate in the distribution exercise.

Bako said the campaign was intended to extend malaria protection to nearly 9.9 million residents and commended the Bauchi State Government for its financial commitment to the programme.

Also speaking, Mrs Mary Acema, who represented the National Coordinator of the National Malaria Elimination Programme, Dr Nnenna Ogulafor, said Bauchi had received and distributed more than 12.7 million insecticide-treated nets since 2010.

Acema said the latest distribution would deploy digital household technology to improve monitoring, strengthen data accuracy and promote accountability throughout the campaign.

The Society for Family Health and the Against Malaria Foundation also urged residents who receive the nets to make sleeping under them every night a regular household practice.