A pest control expert, Mr Bamidele Abiru, says between 600,000 and 700,000 people die from malaria annually in sub-Saharan Africa, highlighting the need for sustained efforts to prevent mosquito-borne diseases.
Abiru, Managing Director of Greenbox Facilities Limited, spoke during a medical outreach in Gosa Community, Abuja, to mark the 2026 World Mosquito Day. The outreach provided residents with malaria tests, HIV screening, Hepatitis B and C tests, mosquito nets and other support.
Abiru urged residents to eliminate stagnant water, clear overgrown vegetation and maintain clean surroundings to reduce mosquito breeding. He said about 500 households were targeted in the outreach, which formed part of his company’s Corporate Social Responsibility programme.
Dr Nnena Ogbulafor of the National Malaria Elimination Programme said malaria prevalence in the FCT declined from 18.8 per cent in 2021 to 7.9 per cent in 2025, attributing the progress to sustained interventions.
She said more than 320 million insecticide-treated nets had been distributed nationwide, while preventive malaria medicines had also been administered to vulnerable children. She urged Nigerians to continue supporting measures aimed at eliminating mosquito breeding sites.
Environmental Health Officer, Mr Joseph Nor, stressed that sanitation was a shared responsibility, while public health expert Nurse Olaitan Ayodeji-Ojo advised residents to seek prompt medical care when ill and encouraged pregnant women to register early for antenatal care.
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