Enugu Govt Intensifies Grassroots Campaign On Free Malaria Testing, Treatment

The Enugu State Government has called on stakeholders and development partners to intensify grassroots awareness campaigns on the ongoing free testing and treatment of malaria across government-owned and selected private health facilities in the state.

The Commissioner for Health, Professor George Ugwu, made the call during the 2026 First Quarter Malaria Advocacy, Communication and Social Mobilisation, ACSM, Group Meeting held in Enugu. He was represented by the Local Government Health Secretary for Enugu East Local Government Area, Dr Ifeyinwa Ugwunweze.

Professor Ugwu said the state government remained committed to total malaria elimination and stressed the need for wider public awareness, particularly in rural communities where access to health information is often limited.

According to him, Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah is optimistic that Enugu State can achieve zero malaria prevalence within the next few years through sustained intervention and public participation.

“At this stage, we, both stakeholders, partners and everybody concerned to stop the menace of malaria, are taking the message of free testing and treatment of malaria to the hinterlands, to our rural people,” he said.

He added that residents must understand that they have the right to demand and access free malaria testing and treatment at Primary Healthcare Centres located close to their communities.

The commissioner also urged residents to embrace preventive measures, including environmental sanitation and the consistent use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets.

“We are sending messages of other necessary things to be done to eliminate malaria by good environmental cleanliness and always sleeping under insecticide-treated nets,” he stated.

Professor Ugwu commended stakeholders and development partners for their contributions to malaria elimination efforts in the state but noted that more work was required to achieve the government’s target.

Also speaking, representative of the Enugu State Traditional Rulers’ Council, Igwe Emmanuel Anichebe, assured the government of the support of royal fathers in driving the campaign across communities.

“Royal fathers will drive the message home and ensure that government-owned health facilities in our communities are up and doing in the state’s free testing and treatment of malaria campaign,” he said.

The Chief Imam of Enugu, Sheikh Ibrahim Ugwu, also pledged the support of religious leaders toward malaria awareness and prevention campaigns across the state.

“The people’s lives will be better protected,” the cleric noted.

In his remarks, the State Coordinator of Johns Hopkins University Affiliate, Jhpiego, Mr Ozioma Nwobodo, said the organisation would continue to strengthen its partnership with the state government in malaria elimination and broader healthcare interventions.

Nwobodo said Jhpiego would scale up support in other health sectors aimed at improving the quality of life of residents.

Earlier, the Programme Manager of the Enugu State Malaria Elimination Programme, Dr Ifeoma Otiji, said stakeholders and partners had significantly increased public awareness on malaria prevention and treatment across the state.

She explained that the group had promoted the message of testing for malaria before treatment through radio, television, print media discussions and community engagements.

“We achieved sending tenths of radio, television and print messages as well as discussions and fora on how residents can ensure malaria elimination and then take advantage of the free testing and treatment of malaria,” she said.

Dr Otiji added that the programme would deepen its reach into rural communities through expanded advocacy, group communication and interpersonal engagement aimed at sustaining the malaria elimination campaign across Enugu State.