From Joseph Asegba, Yola
The Adamawa State Government, in collaboration with development partners and civil society organisations, has fixed June 25, 2026, for the flag-off of a statewide anti-malaria campaign aimed at reducing the burden of the disease across the state.
The campaign is being implemented by the Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Management Sciences for Health (MSH), and the Society for Family Health (SFH), and will cover all 21 local government areas of Adamawa State.
The state government reaffirmed its readiness and commitment to support the campaign and ensure its success.
This assurance was given by the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Pharmacist Zira Mathias, during a press conference and media orientation held in Yola ahead of the launch.
Mathias commended the development partners and CSOs for the intervention, describing it as timely, especially during the rainy season when malaria cases are usually on the rise.
He noted that the initiative would significantly contribute to tackling the high prevalence of malaria in the state and improving public health outcomes.
Speaking at the event, the Programme Manager of the Malaria Elimination Programme, Mr. Benjamin Nashon, called on residents to support the campaign, stressing that the fight against malaria requires collective responsibility.
According to him, all stakeholders must work together to ensure a successful and hitch-free exercise, adding that saving lives and promoting a healthy society should be everyone’s concern.
Also speaking, Mrs. Ifoma expressed concern over the increasing cases of malaria, particularly among children.
She urged media practitioners to intensify public enlightenment efforts on the importance of the campaign and encourage eligible beneficiaries to participate fully.
Meanwhile, the Adamawa State Government, in partnership with CRS, SFH and MSH, has commenced the distribution of over 2.5 million insecticide-treated mosquito nets across the 21 local government areas of the state.
The distribution exercise began on Monday and is expected to be completed before the weekend.
The intervention, supported by the Global Fund, is expected to benefit more than 2.5 million residents, making it one of the largest malaria prevention programmes undertaken in the state’s health sector in recent years.
A total of 2,554,847 insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) and related commodities for the 2026 Integrated Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) and ITN campaign are being distributed through a single-phase, door-to-door approach, with a focus on rural communities where malaria risks are highest.
Speaking with journalists during the deployment process in Yola, the Warehouse Manager of the Adamawa State Health Commodities Agency, Mr. Yunfa Albert Tarfa, confirmed that the mosquito nets had been dispatched to all 21 local government areas to facilitate smooth implementation of the programme.
Also speaking, the Warehouse Manager of the Adamawa State Ministry of Health and Human Services, Mr. Sunday Joshua Yamte, said the intervention would help protect thousands of families, particularly those in rural communities, and contribute to reducing malaria-related deaths in the state.
Yamte, however, identified declining donor support as a major challenge facing the health sector and called for the timely payment of counterpart funds by government to sustain the procurement and distribution of essential malaria prevention commodities.
