The Ekiti State Government has pledged support for the 2026 Malaria Larval Source Management (LSM) intervention aimed at reducing malaria transmission across the state.
The Ekiti State 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 Ekiti State Ministry of Information would collaborate with relevant agencies to sensitise residents through radio, television, social media and other government communication platforms.
He said the ministry would continue to support critical government programmes, noting that it had previously partnered with the Ministry of Health on public health initiatives.
The commissioner commended the team for its efforts to strengthen malaria prevention and improve public health in Ekiti State.
Earlier in his address, the spokesperson for the LSM team, Adedapo Adeogun, said the intervention would focus on Ikere and Ilejemeje Local Government Areas, which have the highest malaria prevalence in the state.
He said personnel training began on July 13, 2026, while microplanning and mapping of the two LGAs commenced on July 15.
According to him, field activities will run from August to December and will involve identifying mosquito breeding sites and applying approved larvicides.
Adeogun explained that the programme would complement existing malaria prevention measures by targeting mosquito breeding sites such as stagnant water, blocked drains and discarded containers, bottles and tyres.
He said environmental management, including improved drainage and proper waste disposal, would be used to eliminate breeding sites, while Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (BTI) would be applied where sites cannot easily be removed.
Adeogun said the team would also sensitise farmers and residents on the safe use of BTI and encourage community participation.
The LSM team appealed to the Ministry of Information to support the campaign through radio, television, newspapers, social media and jingles to educate residents on malaria prevention and environmental sanitation.
The intervention is part of broader efforts by the Federal Government to strengthen malaria control and reduce mosquito-borne diseases across Nigeria.
