By: Monday Danladi, Bauchi
Beneficiaries of the Insecticide treated mosquito nets (ITNs) in Bauchi State have been warned against diversion and misuse as anyone found wonton will be dealt with.
The warning was given by the Chairman of the Bauchi State Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis/Leprosy and Malaria (BACATMA), Dr. Adamu Umar Sambo, while speaking at the official flag-off ceremony for the distribution of the 4.8 million Insecticide-Treated Nets (ITNs) being distributed across the State.
Adamu Sambo gave the warning at the flag-off of the 2026 ITN Mass Distribution Campaign held at the Ahmadu Bello International Conference Centre, Bauchi, on Saturday.
He said logistics for the exercise had been fully completed, with 100 percent of the nets already moved to 1,903 distribution points across the 20 Local Government Areas of the state.
The Chairman appealed to local government chairmen, security agencies and community stakeholders to ensure that no net is diverted and that the materials reach the intended beneficiaries.
“We want these nets to reach every person they are meant for. We are not giving people nets to go and sell, to use for fishing or as nursery shades on farms. We are giving these nets for utilisation to reduce malaria transmission,” he warned.
He disclosed that BACATMA is collaborating with the Bauchi State Environmental Protection Agency (BASEPA) to sustain monthly environmental sanitation as part of malaria prevention efforts.
Adamu Sambo also said that the State ranks highest in the country in domestic resource mobilisation for tuberculosis control, a feat for which it has won national awards for two consecutive years.
According to him, the integration of Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) with childhood TB screening has made Bauchi the leading state in childhood TB detection in the country.
He commended the State Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed and development partners for their support to the campaign.
Also speaking, State Commissioner of Health and Social Welfare, Dr Sani Mohammed Dambam, said that the Government has continued to place premium priority on improving the health sector through efficient and effective service delivery.
The Commissioner added that reforms have been introduced which have made the health sector one of the best in the country following several interventions from development partners.
He urged beneficiaries of the nets to ensure that they use them according to the instructions in order to achieve the set objectives of combating malaria caused by mosquito bites.
Godwill massages were delivered by various development partners assuring continuous support to the government’s efforts to improve healthcare services delivery.
