The Abia State Government has announced plans to begin controlling mosquito breeding at source in two local government areas as part of efforts to strengthen malaria prevention in the state.
The intervention, being implemented by the state Ministry of Health in partnership with the National Malaria Elimination Programme, will initially target Isuikwuato and Aba South Local Government Areas.
The state Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this on Monday while briefing journalists at the Government House, Umuahia, on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting chaired by Governor Alex Otti.
Kanu said the decision followed data showing significant mosquito larvae breeding activities in the two LGAs.
He said, “Abia State Government will commence the statewide distribution of insecticide-treated mosquito nets within the first and second week of October 2026, as part of measures to strengthen malaria prevention and control in the state.”
According to him, the mosquito nets had already started arriving in the state, while consultations were ongoing with stakeholders across the 17 LGAs ahead of the distribution.
The commissioner also disclosed that the Nchedo Sexual Assault Referral Centre had recently attended to seven cases of gender-based and sexual violence.
He said the cases involved six incidents of sexual violence and one case of domestic violence, with five of the survivors aged between 10 and 14 and the remaining two being adult women aged between 25 and 40.
Kanu said one of the survivors, a 10-year-old, required medical intervention and surgery after sustaining severe vaginal bleeding.
He added that the survivors received medical and other support services, while the cases had been documented for protection, investigation, referral and possible legal action.
The commissioner assured that the state government would pursue justice for victims and ensure that perpetrators were held accountable.
“This administration is committed to ensuring that perpetrators of gender-based violence are brought to justice, no matter what it takes,” he said.
Kanu further announced that the Ministry of Health had recently hosted accreditation visits by the Optometrists and Opticians Registration Council of Nigeria and the National Board for Technical Education.
He said the exercise covered training programmes in optometry and nursing sciences, including nursing programmes at the Federal Medical Centre and Abiriba campuses of the College of Nursing Sciences.
On youth development, Kanu said preparations had begun for the fourth cohort of the Abia TechRise programme after the first three cohorts produced 2,210 graduates.
He said 88 outstanding participants from the programme had secured automatic employment into the Abia State Civil Service.
The commissioner also said the Local Government Agricultural Innovation Programme was progressing across the state’s 17 LGAs.
He disclosed that Abia would host the 2026 World Igbo Day celebration in September.
On public health, Kanu said the state had not recorded any case of diphtheria or other major public health concerns.
He added that the State Public Health Department had established an outbreak prevention and preparedness plan, while residents were being advised to strengthen preventive measures following reports of diphtheria outbreaks in some parts of the country.
