Malaria: Adamawa engages 12,208 ad-hoc staff for drugs, ITN distribution
By Ibrahim Kado
Adamawa Government in partnership with Management Science for Health has engaged 12,208 Ad-hoc staff for the distribution of Integrated Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) And Insecticide Treated Nets (ITN) across its 21 local government areas (LGAs).
Mr Benjamin Gubi, Adamawa Malaria Project Manager, made the disclosure at the media engagement for the 2026 campaign in Yola on Saturday.
Gubi explained that the ad-hoc staff comprised of 946 town announcers, 8,810 to give out the drugs, and 1,482 to distribute the nets, as well as 970 supervisors.
The manager said that the five-day campaign, to be held between June 26 and June 30, aimed to reduce the risk of malaria, especially among children, from three months to 59 months.
He added that a lot had been put in place to ensure the success of the exercise at the state and local government levels.
Dr Nnenna Uchechukwu, Technical Director, Malaria Campaign Lead, solicited the support of the media to ensure smooth implementation of the programme.
According to her, this would help to address misconceptions and rumours on how to use the medicine and the ITN at the community level.
In her remarks, Ufuoma Agbache, social and behavioural changes advisor for the campaign, said malaria was the most common preventable public health problem in Nigeria.
Agbache noted that 97 per cent of those with malaria in the country were children under five years of age and pregnant women.
According to her, evidence has shown that Nigeria accounts for nearly 110 million clinically diagnosed cases per year.
She said media support for the exercise was crucial for successful implementation and the usage of the drugs and the nets.
“The media do offer great services and provide direct opportunities to save lives and help people to live better.
“The media, as an advocate of the voiceless, can creditably define and articulate the concerns around malaria, especially prevention issues such as ITN use and SPAQ uptake”, she said.
Mr Zira Buba-Nani, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health and Human Capital Development, appreciated the partners and the media for their contributions to the health sector in the state.
Buba-Nani noted that the healthcare of citizens in the state was a priority of the current administration of Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri.
“The fight against malaria is everybody’s responsibility. Hence, participants must pass the information to the public toward achieving the objective of the exercise,” she said.
