Bauchi State Government has unveiled plans to distribute 4.8 million insecticide-treated mosquito nets across its 20 local government areas in 2026. The state Executive Chairman for Control of Malaria and Tuberculosis, Adamu Sambo, made this disclosure during a press briefing.
According to him, the initiative is designed to strengthen malaria prevention strategies through improved public awareness and participation. He noted that the project is combined with the ongoing Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) programme.
Furthermore, he stated that the combined intervention will significantly reduce the malaria burden, particularly among vulnerable groups such as children and pregnant women. Sambo emphasised the role of the media in shaping public behaviour and mobilising communities in the fight against malaria.
The SMC scheme targets over two million children under the age of five who are most at risk during the rainy season. Speaking about the programme, he explained that the programme helped avert millions of malaria cases across the state. Also, it has helped in developing successful, strong partnerships, grassroots-level implementation, and effective planning.
However, he admitted that challenges such as low community awareness and difficulties in reaching underserved areas still hinder progress. Sambo, therefore, called for sustained media engagement to bridge these gaps and develop targeted unreachable areas.
Adding to this, BACATMA’s Director of Malaria Control, Isah Bello, commended the measurable impact of the SMC programme. The director urged media organisations to intensify grassroots sensitisation to drive behaviour change.
She encouraged the media to actively support awareness creation as the campaign unfolds across the state. Meanwhile, Malaria Consortium Programme Officer Aisha Saba has announced the third cycle of the 2025 SMC campaign, which commenced on Thursday, August 21, 2025.
