A pest control expert, Mr Bamidele Abiru, has warned that malaria kills between 600,000 and 700,000 people annually in sub-Saharan Africa, calling for sustained efforts to combat mosquito-borne diseases.
Abiru, Managing Director of Greenbox Facilities Limited, spoke during the company’s medical outreach in Gosa Community, Federal Capital Territory, to mark World Mosquito Day on Thursday.
He urged residents to maintain clean and hygienic surroundings, eliminate stagnant water and clear overgrown vegetation to reduce mosquito breeding and the spread of malaria.
According to him, the outreach, the third edition organised by the company as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility programme, provided malaria tests, HIV screening, Hepatitis B and C tests and other medical services to residents.
Abiru said about 500 households were targeted, adding that the initiative was aimed at supporting vulnerable communities and encouraging more organisations and individuals to contribute to societal development.
“Government cannot solve all the problems confronting citizens alone. Progress can be achieved through collaboration between government, organisations and individuals,” he said.
Also speaking, the Coordinator of the National Malaria Elimination Programme, Dr Nnena Ogbulafor, represented by Mr Henry Odume, said malaria prevalence in the FCT declined from 18.8 per cent in 2021 to 7.9 per cent in 2025.
She attributed the decline to sustained malaria interventions and urged Nigerians to keep their environments free of mosquito breeding sites.
Ogbulafor said more than 320 million insecticide-treated nets had been distributed to households across Nigeria, while over 450 million doses of Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine plus Amodiaquine had been administered to children under five.
She added that interventions including Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention in northern states and Perennial Malaria Chemoprevention in high-transmission areas were helping to reduce the burden of the disease.
An Environmental Health Officer, Mr Joseph Nor, also advised residents to take responsibility for environmental sanitation rather than waiting for government intervention.
A public health expert, Nurse Olaitan Ayodeji-Ojo, urged residents to seek prompt medical attention when ill and advised pregnant women to register early for antenatal care.
The outreach also featured the distribution of mosquito nets and food items to residents.