By Emmanuel Kwada
A transformative step toward a malaria-free Lere Local Government Area (LGA) was taken today as medical personnel and community leaders gathered to launch the Insecticide Treated Nets (ITN) Distribution Campaign.
The flag-off event, held at Lere, marked the beginning of a concerted effort to protect residents from the scourge of malaria, with free mosquito nets distributed to every household.
Not just an event, but a life-saving mission
Dr. Kalin Ephraim Audu, Vice Chairman of Lere LGA and the designated Malaria Advocate, stood in for the Executive Chairman, Hon. Jafaru Ahmed Saminaka, to lead the campaign. In an impassioned address, Dr. Audu described the initiative as “not just an event, but a life-saving mission.”
He expressed gratitude to the Federal Ministry of Health, the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), the Kaduna State Ministry of Health, Lere Local Government Authority, Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Society for Family Health (SFH), Malaria Consortium, and Roll Back Malaria (RBM) partners for their unwavering support.
When every family member sleeps under a net, the entire household is protected
The campaign prioritizes protecting the most vulnerable—children under five and pregnant women—by ensuring every household receives and correctly uses the insecticide-treated nets. Dr. Audu emphasized the importance of proper net usage, urging residents to air nets under shade for 24 hours before use, refrain from selling them, and encourage neighbors to adopt the practice.
“When every family member sleeps under a net, the entire household is protected,” he stated.
In addition to the ITN distribution, Dr. Audu called on parents and caregivers to support the Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) campaign, ensuring children aged 3–59 months complete their preventive malaria medication during household visits by health teams.
Let’s make Lere a malaria-free zone starting from today
The event saw strong community participation, with traditional rulers, religious leaders, and health workers pledging their commitment to the cause. Dr. Audu vowed to leverage community forums, schools, faith-based gatherings, and media to raise awareness about malaria prevention.
“By the grace of God, and with the support of our health workers and community partners, we will ensure no child dies from malaria, no mother loses a pregnancy, and we will drastically reduce malaria in Lere LGA,” he declared.
The campaign’s rallying cry—“Let’s make Lere a malaria-free zone starting from today”—resonated with attendees, who left inspired to spread the message and protect their communities. With collective action and sustained effort, Lere LGA is poised to become a model for malaria elimination in Nigeria.
