FG Commends Bauchi On Malaria Fight, Unveils Digital Solution For Net Distribution
By Samuel Luka
Bauchi
The Federal Government has commended the Bauchi State Government for its sustained commitment to malaria prevention and control, as the state commenced the 2026 Insecticide-Treated Nets (ITNs) Mass Distribution Campaign.
The National Coordinator of the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), Dr Nnenna Ogbulafor, gave the commendation at the flag-off ceremony held in Bauchi on Saturday.
Ogbulafor, who was represented at the event by Mary Eseme, disclosed that more than 12.7 million insecticide-treated nets had been distributed across Bauchi State since 2010.
She said the 2026 campaign targets the distribution of an additional 4.8 million ITNs to households across the state.
According to her, the sustained support of the Bauchi State Government is particularly commendable at a time when global funding constraints are putting pressure on malaria control programmes.
«“The commitment of health workers, community and religious leaders, and the dedication of our campaign personnel have been instrumental in achieving widespread coverage and reducing malaria cases across communities,” she said.»
Ogbulafor also highlighted a major innovation introduced under this year's campaign—the deployment of I-Pulongo, a homegrown digital solution designed to support household mobilisation.
She explained that the technology would strengthen data quality and accountability, improve operational efficiency and facilitate real-time decision-making during the distribution exercise.
She added that the experience from the deployment would provide valuable lessons for future data-driven malaria prevention campaigns across Nigeria.
The NMEP coordinator expressed appreciation to development partners supporting malaria interventions in the country, including the United States Government, Global Health Supply Chain-Procurement and Supply Management (GHSC-PSM), the World Health Organisation (WHO), Roll Back Malaria Partnership, traditional rulers and community leaders.
She urged residents across Bauchi State to ensure that the distributed nets are used correctly and consistently to maximise their protective benefits.
«“Sleep in it every night. Encourage your neighbours, friends and families to do the same. This simple act can save lives,” she urged.»
The campaign is expected to expand access to insecticide-treated nets among households across Bauchi State as part of broader efforts to prevent malaria transmission and protect vulnerable populations.