Cross River Hits Grassroots with 2025 World Malaria Day Drive in Ikom
By Ebi Collins
Cross River State made a bold statement on Thursday, taking the malaria fight straight to the people as it hosted the 2025 World Malaria Day celebration at Ikom Motor Park — marking a breakaway from the usual Calabar-centered events.
Observed globally every April 25, World Malaria Day calls attention to the urgent need for sustained action against malaria, one of the world’s deadliest diseases. This year’s theme, “Accelerating the Fight Against Malaria for a Healthier Future,” pushes for faster, smarter interventions to end the scourge.
Leading the charge, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, declared the government’s full commitment to stamping out malaria, which he called “the number one killer of children under five and pregnant women.”
“For the first time, we’ve taken this important event outside Calabar because Governor Bassey Otu believes health interventions must reach the people where they live,” Ayuk said.
In a clear message, he warned against self-medication and the use of uncertified malaria drugs, urging residents to seek proper care at accredited health centers.
“Malaria is not witchcraft — it is a preventable disease caused by mosquitoes thriving in dirty environments,” Dr. Ayuk said. “Keeping our surroundings clean and sleeping under mosquito nets will break the cycle.”
As a native of the area, Ayuk made a personal call to both indigenes and settlers: “Malaria prevention must be a lifestyle if we are serious about building a malaria-free Cross River.”
He further emphasized that Governor Otu’s administration is on track to deliver one of Nigeria’s best healthcare systems by 2027 — a vision already taking root through grassroots mobilizations like this.
Dr. Ayuk urged participants to carry the message back to their homes and villages, ensuring no household is left behind in the fight.
The outreach, jointly organized with the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency and the Office of the First Lady, featured free distribution of mosquito nets, medical consultations, and a heavy dose of health education — bringing the battle against malaria right to the heart of the communities that need it most.
