Arrangements have been concluded to flag off the distribution of over 2.6 million insecticide-treated nets to households in the 193 wards on Wednesday in Kwara State in the 2023 integrated campaign against malaria.

Speaking about the level of preparedness of the campaign in the 16 local government areas of the state, some of the local government coordinators stated that training and deployment of personnel for the programme had been completed.

The local government coordinators for Ifelodun local government, Mr. E. O. Owolabi, his Irepodun local government counterpart, Sodiq Shakirat Mojibola, and the Ilorin West local government area coordinator, Dr Yusuf Babatunde, mentioned that advocacy at different levels had also been carried out to sensitise residents of the state.

The Kwara State government, in collaboration with the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) and with funding support from the Global Fund Malaria Project, is participating in the 2023 insecticide-treated nets/Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (ITN/SMC) malaria mass campaign.

Dr Babatunde stated that about 774 personnel, consisting of data recorders, ITN distributors, dispensers of sulfadoxin-pyrimethamine with amodiaquine (SPAQ), and supervisors in the Ilorin West local government area of the state, had been trained for the entire exercise.

The coordinators, mentioning that a team of trained personnel consists of a data recorder, net distributor, and SPAQ dispenser, added that they were trained in their specific areas of operations as well as team spirit.

He also mentioned that the personnel were grouped into different categories.

“We've trained supervisors before now. This is an integrated campaign, and it is the first time it is being carried out in the country, with Kwara State as a pilot state. This involves the distribution of ITN and the dispensing of drugs.

“Nets have already been distributed to various hubs in preparation for the exercise,” adding that drugs (SPAQ) to be administered to children under the age of five years had been kept in various health facilities selected for the programme in the local government area.

“Tuesday is the last day of training for all personnel to be deployed for the programme. The reason is that if you train people and leave a gap, the trained personnel may lose memory.

That's why the immediate deployment for proper implementation on Thursday after the program would have been flagged off by the state governor on Wednesday.

“Advocacy at different levels has been ongoing with activities of town criers, civil society organisations, etc., aimed at sensitising residents of the state on the campaign against malaria.”