More than 3.6 million residents of Nasarawa State are expected to benefit from a new malaria prevention campaign involving the procurement and distribution of 1.8 million insecticide-treated mosquito nets, following a funding commitment of over ₦7 billion by the United States and Nasarawa State governments.
The intervention will cover all 13 local government areas of the state, with household registration scheduled to begin on November 15 ahead of the distribution exercise in December.
In a report published on November 13, Punch reported that the United States Government committed more than ₦6 billion towards procuring the nets, while over ₦1 billion was allocated to operational activities, including distribution. The Nasarawa State Commissioner for Health, Dr Gaza Gwamna, disclosed the funding details during a media briefing in Lafia. Punch Newspapers
The campaign is being implemented in collaboration with the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) as part of efforts to expand access to malaria prevention tools across the state.
Household Registration to Begin November 15
According to the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, about 9,000 personnel have been trained to support the exercise. The teams are expected to visit households between November 15 and 21 to conduct mapping and registration across 147 electoral wards in the state.
The registration process will use digital tools to capture household information and guide the allocation of mosquito nets. Residents will receive slips after registration, which they are expected to keep for the collection exercise scheduled for December 6 to 12. Federal Ministry of Information
Each net is expected to serve two people, with allocations determined by the number of eligible household members. The campaign’s allocation plan also takes population differences across local government areas into account. Karu is expected to receive more than 300,000 nets, while Lafia has been allocated over 250,000.
The state government has urged residents to cooperate with registration teams and provide access to their households to support accurate beneficiary records. Officials have also cautioned against selling the nets or using them for activities such as fishing, stressing that they are intended for protection against mosquito bites.
Households will also be encouraged to return old or damaged mosquito nets during the exercise for appropriate recycling or disposal.
Insecticide-treated nets provide a physical barrier against mosquito bites and contain insecticides that help kill or repel mosquitoes. Consistent use is an important malaria prevention measure, particularly for children under five and pregnant women, who are at increased risk of severe illness.
As the registration exercise approaches, residents are encouraged to participate and ensure that their household information is properly captured ahead of the December distribution.
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