Birnin Kebbi, Nigeria – The U.S. government, through the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), has donated 2.6 million bed nets for distribution in Kebbi State.  PMI is jointly implemented by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

The bed nets, valued at $7.2 million, will be distributed in all local government areas of the state. The United States government also provided an additional $4.6 million for logistics, including transportation and community mobilization – for a total contribution in Kebbi of $11.8 million. The Kebbi State Government led the planning, coordination, and bed net event launch on April 25.

The bed net distribution is a critical component of the ongoing effort to end malaria in Nigeria. Malaria is one of the deadliest diseases in Nigeria, killing an estimated 107,000 people in 2016. The disease is especially prevalent during the rainy season, when the mosquito population increases.

“Through this intervention, the mortality rate from malaria in our state will reduce, particularly that of women and children,” Kebbi State governor Sen. Abubakar Atiku Bagudu said of the donation.  “We strongly encourage all our people to sleep under these nets and not trade then away for something else.”

Sleeping under an insecticide-treated bed net every night is one of the best ways to prevent malaria.  Bed nets put a vital barrier between people and the mosquitoes that carry malaria, most importantly during the hours from dusk to dawn. Nightly use of insecticide-treated bed nets prevents infections, which in turn prevents the spread of malaria.

Since 2011, the U.S. government has invested more than $490 million to support the Government of Nigeria’s malaria control program. This includes procuring and distributing insecticide-treated bed nets, malaria diagnostic kits, and malaria medicines.  In addition, the U.S. trains health workers to accurately test, diagnose, and treat malaria.