By: Dosunmu Paul

The Council of Health Ministers, University of Ibadan, launched a 10-day awareness campaign, regarding human botfly infestations among students of the University of Ibadan.

The health campaign followed a memorandum issued by the University of Ibadan Students’ Union Health Advisory Committee, after reported confirmed cases.

Speaking to IndyPress, Aduragbemi Kehinde, the Chairman of the Council of the Health Ministers, mentioned that the health campaign, which commenced on Wednesday August 6, 2025, addressed the awareness and orientation on the human botfly infestation, its lifecycle, the vector involved, signs and symptoms, and preventive measures against the infestation.

According to him, the campaign enlightened the students about the disease with the students being encouraged to get adequate treatment at the University Health Centre.

“The rationale for the early awareness campaign is to ensure that the botfly infestation does not become like that of bedbugs infestation which the University community is still battling with till today,” Mr. Aduragbemi Kehinde said.

“Students should follow the preventive measures to guard against the disease which includes proper sun-drying and ironing of clothes, maintenance of a clean environment and use of mosquito nets and repellent to prevent mosquito bites,” he added.

Human botfly infestations are caused when mosquitoes, acting as vectors, deposit botfly eggs on human skin, leading to painful swellings.