Chief Rasaki Solanke: The Story of a Malaria Champion

In the remote settlement of Abule-Orun, nestled in Ikereku 2 Ward of Abeokuta North LGA, Chief Rasaki Solanke has emerged as a role model of community leadership in the fight against malaria. Faced with daunting logistical challenges during the 2024 Insecticide-Treated Net (ITN) Mass DIstribution Campaign, Chief Solanke took it upon himself to ensure his community was not left behind in the quest for a malaria-free future.
Malaria is endemic throughout Nigeria, with an estimated 97% of the population at risk. Transmission of the disease occurs all year round making it a major cause of morbidity and mortality. In an effort to scale-up malaria prevention coverage in Nigeria, in 2008 the Federal Ministry of Health, through the National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP) and with support from key RBM partners, launched an initiative to scale up access to, and use of, ITNs through State-wide mass distribution campaigns. The 2024 Ogun state ITN mass distribution campaign commenced 13th October – 3rd December with a total of 2,596,087 nets distributed across 1,431 distribution points (DPs).
The designated distribution point (DP) for the community was located at Ile Ise Awo PHC, a distance of approximately 5-6 kilometers. Poor road conditions and soaring fuel prices made transportation prohibitively expensive, with each trip costing community members over ₦5,000. These barriers led to widespread reluctance among residents to redeem their ITN cards and collect their life-saving insecticide treated nets.
Recognising the critical importance of ITNs in malaria prevention, Chief Solanke decided to act. Leveraging the training he received as a Zero Malaria stakeholder under the Zero Malaria Starts with Me Campaign (a pan-African movement that aims to end malaria by increasing awareness and empowering communities to take action), implemented by Society for Family Health (SFH), Chief Solanke mobilised his community members and collected their ITN cards. He made multiple trips with his personal vehicle to the distribution point, ensuring that over 150 nets were retrieved and properly documented.

To maintain transparency, the ITN cards were scanned at the distribution point, and the nets were handed over to the national and state teams for follow-up and monitoring. The next day, the team visited Abule-Orun to oversee the equitable distribution of the nets to community members. Chief Solanke’s meticulous efforts ensured that every household received their allocated nets, which were then documented for accountability.
As a result of his leadership action, over 50 households—comprising at least 300 individuals—now have insecticide-treated nets to protect them from malaria. Grateful residents expressed their appreciation for Chief Solanke’s dedication, describing him as a true community hero.
The distribution campaign, which ran from November 19–23, 2024, was implemented by SFH in collaboration with the Ogun State Government, Catholic Relief Services (CRS), and the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP). Chief Solanke’s actions underscores the critical role of grassroots leaders in overcoming barriers to health interventions and inspiring others to take ownership of malaria prevention in their communities.
Chief Solanke’s story is a powerful reminder that even in the face of challenges, collective action and determined leadership can make a lasting impact. His dedication to a zero-malaria community serves as an inspiration for others to step up and take active roles in the fight against this preventable and treatable disease. His actions will help reduce malaria in his community by providing access to ITN and ensuring its use within his community.
SFH will continue to play a major role in the fight against malaria in Nigeria through implementation of mass distribution of ITNs, implementation of strategic behaviour change (SBC) and providing innovative solutions to end malaria in Nigeria.
