Kogi Inaugurates ITN Campaign Committee, Targets Distribution of Three Million Mosquito Nets

By Rotimi Odofin

The Kogi State Government has inaugurated the Insecticide-Treated Nets Campaign Coordination Committee (ICCN) as part of preparations for the 2026 statewide ITN Mass Campaign, with plans to distribute three million insecticide-treated mosquito nets across the state to accelerate malaria prevention and achieve universal health coverage.

Speaking during the inauguration at the EOC of the Kogi State Ministry of Health in Lokoja, Dr. Stephen Ake presented an overview of the 2026 ITN Campaign, disclosing that a maximum of four insecticide-treated nets would be distributed to each household during the exercise.
According to him, the campaign implementation strategy encompasses intensive public enlightenment and community engagement activities before, during and after the distribution of the mosquito nets to ensure their proper utilisation and sustained behavioural change.
Dr. Ake explained that the newly inaugurated ICCN would coordinate the overall implementation of the campaign through effective monitoring and supervision, while ensuring that all stakeholders play their respective roles for the success of the exercise.

He noted that the committee would provide strategic direction for the campaign, coordinate the activities of ministries, departments and agencies, development partners and implementing organisations, mobilise political, financial and technical support, and ensure effective logistics, commodity security and supply chain management throughout the distribution process.

The committee is also expected to facilitate advocacy, social mobilisation, risk communication and community engagement, coordinate security arrangements for personnel and campaign materials, monitor implementation across the state, address operational challenges and oversee post-campaign evaluation and accountability.
Inaugurating the committee on behalf of the Coordinating Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abdulazeez Adams Adeiza, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Mr. Maji Enoch, charged members to justify the confidence reposed in them by providing effective leadership and ensuring a transparent, efficient and successful implementation of the campaign.

He urged members to work collaboratively with all stakeholders to guarantee that every eligible household benefits from the distribution exercise, stressing that the success of the campaign would significantly reduce the burden of malaria in Kogi State.
The ICCN is chaired by the Honourable Commissioner for Health, with the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry serving as Co-Chairman, while the Programme Manager of the State Malaria Elimination Programme (SMEP) serves as Secretary.

The inauguration of the Insecticide-Treated Nets Campaign Coordination Committee underscores the Kogi State Government’s renewed commitment to strengthening malaria prevention efforts and ensuring the equitable distribution of insecticide-treated nets to every community, household and hard-to-reach area across the state as part of its drive towards improved public health and universal health coverage.