In observance of World Malaria Day 2024, Reckitt Nigeria, the manufacturers of Mortein Insecticide, has announced a renewal of its strategic collaboration with Retail Supermarket Nigeria, owners of Shoprite stores in the area of malaria prevention and education.
According to the 2023 World Malaria Report by the World Health Organisation (WHO), 22 persons die every hour due to malaria in Nigeria, and One out of three deaths from malaria globally occur in Nigeria.
The partnership between Mortein and Shoprite was made official with a contract signing ceremony held in Lagos, aimed at intensifying efforts in the fight against malaria in Nigeria.
The partnership is dedicated to enhancing public awareness about malaria prevention, which remains a significant public health issue in Nigeria.
As part of the collaboration, Mortein will distribute educational flyers, conduct malaria and general health checks, and utilise in-store communications at select Shoprite locations across Nigeria in a bid to educate shoppers on malaria prevention strategies.
Head of Trade Marketing, Reckitt Nigeria, Udoka Ekwueme expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, emphasising that it will help amplify the message of malaria prevention across the nation.
“Our brand is driven by a commitment to protect families from pest-borne diseases like malaria. Working with a leading retail store like Shoprite who have a long history of partnership with Reckitt on commercial and CSR initiatives will enable us to further educate the public on preventive measures such as using insecticides and maintaining proper sanitation to eliminate mosquitoes, the vectors of this disease,” Ekwueme said.
The chief executive officer, Shoprite, Hubertus Rick echoed these sentiments, noting, “Shoprite is committed to supporting initiatives that promote public health. We are proud to support Mortein’s educational efforts, ensuring our customers and the broader Nigerian population are informed about effective malaria prevention.”
The theme for the 2024 World Malaria Day is ‘Accelerate the Fight against Malaria for a More Equitable World’. This global call to action underscores Mortein and Shoprite’s campaign to end this deadly disease through increased awareness and preventive measures.
