Ondo govt tackles fake malaria drugs, distributes 3.6m nets
By Boye Oyeyemi –
The Ondo State Government has announced plans to combat fake anti-malarial drugs in pharmacies and patent medicine shops across the state using a scanning machine to test drug integrity.
State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Banji Ajaka, disclosed this on Thursday in Akure during a media briefing ahead of the 2025 Insecticide-Treated Nets (ITNs) campaign.
He expressed concern over the high incidence of malaria in the state, blaming part of the challenge on counterfeit medications that fail to treat the disease.
“All households in the state will receive ITNs as a preventive measure against malaria,” Ajaka said. “To reduce the burden of malaria, over 3.6 million nets will be distributed from September 8 to 17, with officials in uniform visiting homes to register beneficiaries and deliver the nets.”
He also advised recipients to air the nets for 24 hours in the shade before use and to sleep inside them nightly, ensuring the nets are properly tucked over the sleeping area.
Ajaka noted that the initiative, combined with tighter monitoring of anti-malarial drugs, would significantly reduce malaria prevalence in the state.
He urged media organizations to intensify support for malaria elimination initiatives, stressing that prevention remains the most effective tool.
Also speaking, Dr. Waheed Afolayan, Malaria Programme Officer in the Ministry, said Nigeria accounts for 25 percent of global malaria cases and 30 percent of malaria-related deaths.
