Abia to tackle malaria from mosquito breeding source

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti.

Following documented mosquito larvae infestation in Abia State, the state Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the National Malaria Elimination Programme, will commence larvae source management activities before the end of September, focusing on two pilot local government areas, Isuikwuato and Aba South.

As part of the intervention, consultations are ongoing with relevant stakeholders across the 17 local government areas to ensure a seamless and effective distribution of treated mosquito nets. This is as the state recorded seven cases of gender-based violence and sexual and gender-based violence.

The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this on Monday while briefing journalists at Government House, Umuahia, on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti.

He said the intervention was based on available data indicating that the two LGAs had significant mosquito larvae breeding activities, hence the need to eliminate the larvae at source.

He said, “Abia State Government will commence the statewide distribution of insecticide-treated mosquito nets within the first and second week of October, 2026, as part of measures to strengthen malaria prevention and control in the state. The mosquito nets have started arriving in the state.”

Kanu also disclosed that the Nchedo Sexual Assault Referral Centre in the state had recently recorded seven GBV and SGBV cases, comprising six cases of sexual violence and one case of domestic violence.

He stated, “The cases involved five minors aged between 10 and 14 years and two adult women aged between 25 and 40 years. The reported cases involved alleged defilement, rape and domestic violence against a pregnant woman.

“The centre provided medical and other support services to survivors, including medical intervention and surgery for a 10-year-old survivor who sustained severe vaginal bleeding and has been documented for appropriate protection, investigation, referral and legal processes.”

He assured that the state government remained committed to ensuring that perpetrators of gender-based violence were brought to justice.

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“This administration is committed to ensuring that perpetrators of gender-based violence are brought to justice, no matter what it takes,” he said.

Kanu further disclosed that the State Ministry of Health had recently hosted the Optometrists and Opticians Registration Council of Nigeria for an accreditation visit, as well as the National Board for Technical Education for accreditation of training programmes in optometry and nursing sciences.

He said the accreditation exercise included nursing training at the Federal Medical Centre and Abiriba campuses of the College of Nursing Sciences in the state.

The commissioner also disclosed that preparations had commenced for the fourth cohort of the Abia TechRise programme following the successful implementation of the first three cohorts.

He said the first three cohorts had produced a total of 2,210 graduates, of whom 88 outstanding graduates had secured automatic employment into the Abia State Civil Service.

On agriculture, Kanu said the Local Government Agricultural Innovation Programme was progressing well across the 17 local government areas.

He also disclosed that the state would host the 2026 edition of World Igbo Day in September.

Kanu further disclosed that Abia State had recorded no cases of diphtheria or any other public health concern.

He added that the State Public Health Department had instituted an outbreak prevention and preparedness plan, while the focus of the State Ministry of Health’s advisory for the week was to strengthen preparedness and preventive measures against diphtheria following reports of outbreaks in some parts of the country.