Reported by Simon Daniel Yusuph l Journalist at Weng Global
Abia State Government is set to begin targeted larval source management activities before the end of September as part of efforts to reduce mosquito breeding and strengthen malaria prevention across the state.
The intervention, being carried out in collaboration with the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), will initially focus on Isuikwuato and Aba South Local Government Areas, where available biological and meteorological data identified high levels of mosquito larvae breeding.
The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed the plan on Monday, September 21, 2026, while briefing journalists in Umuahia on decisions from the State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti.
Targeting Mosquito Breeding Sites
According to Kanu, the larval source management programme is designed to address mosquito breeding at its source rather than relying only on measures aimed at protecting people from mosquito bites.
The activities will focus on areas identified through data as having significant mosquito larvae populations. The government said the initial intervention would be concentrated in the two LGAs where the breeding levels are highest.
The intervention is being implemented by the Centre for Mental Health in collaboration with the National Malaria Elimination Programme, according to the commissioner.
Larval source management is a malaria-control approach that targets mosquito breeding sites. Depending on the local conditions and programme design, such interventions can involve identifying, modifying or treating breeding habitats to reduce mosquito populations.
Nigeria’s national malaria-control strategy has recognised larval source management as a complementary vector-control measure alongside insecticide-treated nets and other interventions.
Mosquito Nets Also Planned Across Abia
The larval control programme comes as Abia prepares for a wider distribution of insecticide-treated mosquito nets across its 17 local government areas.
Kanu said the distribution of the nets would now commence in the first or second week of October, with supplies already arriving in the state.
The exercise will be launched by Governor Alex Otti, while consultations are ongoing with stakeholders across the 17 LGAs to support the distribution process.
The state had earlier announced plans to distribute about 3.03 million insecticide-treated nets as part of its malaria-control programme.
The planned distribution is significant because Abia had not conducted a mass insecticide-treated net distribution campaign since 2010, according to earlier statements from state officials.
The government is implementing the campaign in partnership with the National Malaria Elimination Programme.
Malaria Prevalence Reported to Have Fallen
The latest intervention follows reported progress in malaria control in Abia.
Commissioner for Health Professor Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche previously said malaria prevalence in the state fell from about 16 per cent in 2024 to 11 per cent in 2025.
He said the state was seeking to reduce prevalence further into single digits.
The health commissioner also stressed that distributing mosquito nets alone would not be sufficient and that residents would need to use them properly and consistently.
The state has therefore been pursuing a broader approach involving mosquito-net distribution, identification of malaria hotspots, larval source management and community-level environmental measures.
Role of Environmental Sanitation
Health authorities have also urged residents to support malaria-control efforts by maintaining cleaner surroundings and eliminating stagnant water and other locations where mosquitoes can breed.
This is particularly relevant to larval source management because mosquito populations can increase around suitable breeding habitats.
The government’s targeted approach means that interventions can be directed towards locations where surveillance and available data indicate greater mosquito-breeding activity.
For residents, however, prevention also depends on everyday measures around homes and communities, including reducing standing water and maintaining sanitary surroundings.
Why the Intervention Matters
Malaria remains an important public-health challenge in Nigeria, making prevention strategies that reduce mosquito populations an important part of disease-control efforts.
The Abia programme also illustrates a shift towards combining different malaria-control measures rather than depending on a single intervention.
Insecticide-treated nets primarily provide protection against mosquito bites, while larval source management seeks to reduce mosquito populations before they reach adulthood.
The combination can allow health authorities to address malaria transmission from different points in the mosquito life cycle.
The decision to begin the larval intervention in Isuikwuato and Aba South also reflects the use of local data to determine where resources should initially be concentrated.
However, the effectiveness of the programme will depend on implementation, continued monitoring and community participation.
What Happens Next
The larval source management activities are expected to begin before the end of September in Isuikwuato and Aba South.
Meanwhile, the wider distribution of insecticide-treated nets across Abia’s 17 local government areas is scheduled for the first or second week of October, subject to the ongoing preparations.
The state government is also expected to continue malaria surveillance and the identification of areas with significant mosquito-breeding activity.
For residents, health authorities continue to emphasise the importance of using insecticide-treated nets consistently and reducing potential mosquito breeding sites around homes and communities.
The latest measures form part of Abia’s broader effort to reduce malaria prevalence and move towards single-digit levels while strengthening preventive healthcare across the state.
Weng Global – stories beyond borders
Sources
- Abia State Government / Abia State Ministry of Information
- National Malaria Elimination Programme
- Vanguard
- National Ambassador
- Premium Times
- New Telegraph
