The Ekiti State Government has pledged to deploy its media platforms to support a major malaria prevention campaign aimed at reducing the burden of the disease in two local government areas with the highest prevalence in the state.
The Commissioner for Information, Taiwo Olatunbosun, gave the assurance in Ado-Ekiti while receiving a delegation of federal and state partners implementing the Larval Source Management (LSM) intervention under the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) through the IMPACT Project.
Olatunbosun said the Ministry of Information would work closely with relevant agencies to drive public awareness on the programme through radio, television, social media and other government communication channels.
According to him, the ministry remains committed to supporting strategic government initiatives and has consistently partnered with the Ministry of Health on public health campaigns aimed at improving residents’ well-being.
He commended the implementation team for its commitment to strengthening malaria prevention efforts and improving health outcomes across Ekiti State.
Speaking on behalf of the LSM team, Adedapo Adeogun said the intervention would initially focus on Ikere and Ilejemeje Local Government Areas, identified as having the highest malaria prevalence in the state.
Adeogun disclosed that personnel training for the programme commenced on July 13, 2026, while microplanning and mapping exercises across the two councils began on July 15.
He explained that field operations are scheduled to run from August through December, during which officials will identify mosquito breeding sites and apply approved larvicides to curb mosquito populations.
According to him, the intervention complements existing malaria control strategies by targeting breeding grounds such as stagnant water, blocked drainage systems, discarded containers, bottles and old tyres where mosquitoes thrive.
He added that environmental management measures, including proper drainage maintenance and improved waste disposal practices, would also be promoted to eliminate breeding sites.
Where breeding areas cannot be easily removed, the team will apply Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (BTI), a biological larvicide approved for mosquito control.
Adeogun said community engagement would form a key part of the programme, with farmers and residents to be educated on the safe application of BTI while encouraging active public participation in environmental sanitation.
He appealed to the Ministry of Information to support the campaign through radio and television programmes, newspaper publications, social media campaigns and public awareness jingles to educate residents on malaria prevention and the importance of maintaining clean environments.
The intervention forms part of the federal government’s broader malaria control strategy aimed at reducing mosquito-borne diseases and strengthening public health interventions across Nigeria.
