By Aderogba George
A pest control expert, Mr Bamidele Abiru, says between 600,000 and 700,000 people in sub-Saharan Africa die from malaria annually, underscoring the need for sustained efforts to combat mosquito-borne diseases.
Abiru, Managing Director of Greenbox Facilities Limited, Abuja, said this during a medical outreach in Gosa Community, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to commemorate the 2026 World Mosquito Day observed annually on Aug. 20.
He urged residents to maintain a clean and hygienic environment, describing mosquitoes as one of the deadliest threats to human health and emphasising the importance of preventive measures.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the outreach, the third in the series, formed part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme and featured malaria tests, HIV screening, Hepatitis B and C tests, among other services.
“Greenbox Facilities Limited has been operating for over 12 years. In our ninth year, we felt it was time to give back to the communities where we operate.
“So, in commemoration of World Mosquito Day on Aug. 20, we initiated this outreach programme, which has now reached its third edition,” he said.
According to him, many people are unaware of the devastating impact of mosquitoes on human lives, in spite of malaria remaining a major public health challenge across sub-Saharan Africa.
“It is our own little contribution because most people do not know that mosquitoes are among the deadliest killers of humans. Between 600,000 and 700,000 people in sub-Saharan Africa die from malaria every year.
“As part of our responsibility as a pest control company, we decided to reach out to communities within our area of operation and support government efforts in combating malaria,” he said.
Abiru said that about 500 households were targeted in the outreach and called on other well-meaning Nigerians to embrace Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives that benefit vulnerable communities.
“Government cannot solve all the problems confronting citizens alone. Progress can be achieved through collaboration between government, organisations and individuals,” he said.
He added that the outreach was aimed not only at supporting beneficiaries but also at encouraging more Nigerians to contribute meaningfully to societal development through CSR programmes.
Abiru further urged Nigerians to eliminate stagnant water, clear overgrown vegetation and maintain clean surroundings to reduce mosquito breeding and minimise the spread of malaria.
Also speaking, Dr Nnena Ogbulafor, Coordinator of the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), urged Nigerians to preserve their environment and keep it free of mosquito breeding sites.
Represented by Mr Henry Odume, Assistant Chief Scientific Officer under the Integrated Vector Management unit, Ogbulafor said malaria prevalence in the FCT declined from 18.8 per cent in 2021 to 7.9 per cent in 2025.
She said the reduction reflected the impact of sustained interventions under the NMEP and had contributed significantly to saving lives across the territory.
“Over 320 million insecticide-treated nets have been distributed to households, protecting families across Nigeria, while more than 450 million doses of Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine plus Amodiaquine (SPAQ) have been administered.
“The doses have been given to children under five years to help prevent malaria and reduce the burden of the disease among vulnerable children nationwide.
“Innovative strategies such as Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) in the North and Perennial Malaria Chemoprevention (PMC) in high-transmission areas are helping to break the cycle of infection.
“These achievements are not just statistics; they represent healthier children, stronger families and a brighter future for Nigeria,” she said.
An Environmental Health Officer, Mr Joseph Nor, also educated residents on proper sanitation practices and the importance of maintaining a healthy environment.
Nor said environmental sanitation was everyone’s responsibility and advised residents not to wait for government interventions before taking action to keep their surroundings clean.
A public health expert, Nurse Olaitan Ayodeji-Ojo, encouraged residents to prioritise environmental cleanliness and seek prompt medical attention whenever they fall ill.
“Take your children to the hospital when they are sick, and pregnant women should register early for antenatal care,” she advised.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Happiness Mika, commended the organisers of the outreach and pledged to continue using the mosquito net distributed during the programme.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that mosquito nets and food items were distributed to residents as part of the outreach activities. (NAN)
