In commemoration of World Malaria Day 2026, the Federal University of Health Sciences Teaching Hospital, Otukpo (FUHSTHO) on Friday 24th April 2026, took its enlightenment campaign to St. Francis College, Otukpo, where it also donated free anti-malaria drugs to students and staff.
The outreach, driven by the hospital’s Pharmaceutical Services Department, is part of FUHSTHO’s corporate social responsibility and its commitment to promoting good health and a safe environment in host communities.
Leading the team of pharmacists, Mercy Ene John and other pharmacists engaged students on critical topics including Malaria Prevention and Control, Proper Use of Insecticide-Treated Nets, Environmental Hygiene, and The Dangers of Self-Medication. The students were charged to imbibe safe health practices, maintain a spirit of hygiene, and become ambassadors of malaria prevention in their homes.
Speaking on the initiative, the Chief Medical Director of FUHSTHO, Prof. Teddy E. Agida, IION, said the hospital believes in taking healthcare beyond its walls. He stated that
“At FUHSTHO, we believe that the hospital should not wait for the sick to come through its gates. We must take health education and preventive care to the people, and there is no better place to start than with our children in schools,”
Prof. Agida noted that malaria remains one of Nigeria’s deadliest but most preventable diseases, adding, “Malaria kills, but ignorance kills faster. This year’s World Malaria Day theme reminds us that investing in our young people’s health is investing in Nigeria’s future. If a student understands today that a clogged gutter breeds mosquitoes, and that sleeping under a treated net saves lives, then we have won half the battle against malaria.”
During the exercise, the team emphasized that “a clean environment is the first vaccine against malaria.” A lively question-and-answer session was also held, with students who answered correctly receiving branded notepads.
The Principal of St. Francis College, Rev. Fr. Augustine Ochai, expressed profound gratitude to the hospital management for selecting his school as the first among institutions listed for the 2026 outreach.
“I want to sincerely appreciate the Chief Medical Director, Prof. Teddy E. Agida, IION, for finding our college worthy of this historic visit. This gesture shows that FUHSTHO is not just a hospital but a true partner in building a healthier future for our children,” Rev. Fr. Ochai said.
He added that the free anti-malaria drugs and the knowledge shared would go a long way in protecting students, especially as the rainy season approaches.
Prof. Agida reaffirmed FUHSTHO’s commitment to community health, declaring, “FUHSTHO will continue to partner with schools, religious bodies, and community leaders across Benue South to ensure that zero malaria is not just a slogan, but a reality we achieve together. Good health is not a privilege for a few. It is a right for all.”
Source: Protocol, Information and Public Relations Department, FUHSTHO
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