By Ayomide Otitoju
The Ekiti State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the 2026 Malaria Larval Source Management (LSM) intervention aimed at reducing malaria transmission and strengthening disease control across 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 intervention under the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) through the IMPACT Project.
Olatunbosun said the Ministry of Information would work with relevant agencies to create public awareness through radio, television, newspapers, social media and other government communication platforms.
He noted that the ministry would continue to support critical government initiatives, recalling its previous collaboration with the Ministry of Health on public health campaigns.
The commissioner also commended the implementation team for its efforts to strengthen malaria prevention and improve healthcare outcomes in Ekiti State.
Earlier, the spokesperson for the LSM team, Adedapo Adeogun, said the intervention would focus on Ikere and Ilejemeje Local Government Areas, identified as having the highest malaria prevalence in the state.
He disclosed that personnel training commenced on July 13, 2026, while microplanning and mapping of the two local government areas began on July 15.
According to him, field operations will run from August to December, during which teams will identify mosquito breeding sites and apply approved larvicides to curb mosquito populations.
Adeogun explained that the intervention complements existing malaria prevention strategies by targeting breeding sites such as stagnant water, blocked drains, discarded containers, bottles and used tyres.
He added that environmental management measures, including improved drainage systems and proper waste disposal, would be deployed to eliminate breeding sites, while Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (BTI) would be applied in areas where breeding sites cannot easily be removed.
He said the team would also sensitise farmers and residents on the safe use of BTI and encourage active community participation throughout the exercise.
The LSM team appealed to the Ministry of Information to support the campaign through sustained public awareness on radio, television, newspapers, social media and jingles to promote malaria prevention and environmental sanitation.
The intervention forms part of the Federal Government’s broader efforts to strengthen malaria control and reduce mosquito-borne diseases across Nigeria.
