The Deputy Governor of Delta State, Monday Onyeme, has declared that achieving a malaria-free environment in Nigeria is possible during an advocacy visit for the Insecticide-Treated Net (ITN) Campaign in Asaba on Thursday.

"We will be glad to be the first state in Nigeria to have a malaria-free environment, and I am sure that we have a very capable team to ensure that the goal is achieved," Onyeme stated during the visit led by Delta State Health Commissioner, Dr. Joseph Onojaeme.

The Deputy Governor emphasized the state government's readiness to support the campaign, saying, "We are ready to participate in this campaign and to take the campaign to every nook and cranny of Delta State."

Highlighting the importance of health to overall development, Onyeme remarked, "A healthy society is a wealthy society. Beyond every other developmental achievement by a government, if the citizens are not healthy, then everything will come to nothing."

The Coordinating Minister of Health, Prof. Alipate Mohammed, represented by the Director of Personnel Management, Mr. David Oyeleke, noted that malaria remains a major public health challenge and a leading cause of mortality and morbidity in Nigeria.

Prof. Mohammed acknowledged the progress made through global partnerships, particularly mentioning the Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria's contributions to scaling up antiretroviral therapy, enhancing TB case detection, supporting malaria prevention campaigns, and improving access to effective malaria treatment in thirteen states, including Delta.

Dr. Joseph Onojaeme, Commissioner for Health in Delta State, described the visit as "a significant high-level advocacy and sensitization effort toward the Insecticide-Treated Net mass distribution campaign."

He emphasized that malaria continues to pose a significant public health challenge in the state and across Nigeria, particularly affecting vulnerable groups such as pregnant women and children under five years of age.

The commissioner characterized the advocacy visit as "a call to action and a renewal of the government's collective resolve to eliminate malaria from society."

The Delta State government has pledged full support for the ITN campaign as part of broader efforts to combat malaria in the state and contribute to national malaria elimination goals.