The Ministry of Health has raised high expectations of a reduction in malaria cases following a mosquito nets distribution exercise targeting all districts across the country as many areas in the south have so far been reached.
Every three years government distributes free mosquito nets to households in a bid to curb malaria, and this year about 9.2 million nets are expected to be distributed with a 33 Million US dollars funding from Global fund.
Speaking to MIJ Online, on the sidelines of touring Chikwawa and Nsanje districts, Dr. Michael Kayange-Program Manager for the National Malaria Control
-expressed satisfaction with the ongoing exercise.
“Am quite impressed that we have started well, I have been to a number of sites and am satisfied that the exercise is going on quite well and that minor challenged being encounters are addressed there and then” said Kayange.
He has however advised Malawians to properly use the mosquito nets to address Malaria burden in the country, saying government is working with communities to implement bylaws to address abuse of nets.
“A lot of people are suffering from Malaria a lot of people are dying from malaria, so we cannot afford to see people abusing the nets other than sleeping under them.” Said Dr Kayange
Kayange also disclosed that government has plans to come up with a national net disposal policy to ensure that the used mosquito nets are properly disposed to safeguard the environment.
“At the moment we do not have a net disposal policy however we encourage repurposing the old nets. As government we are in the process of coming up with proper net disposal policy that can be applied national wider” Said Kayange
Meanwhile Village Head Nyali, in the area of Traditional Authority Mbenje in Nsanje district applauded government for the exercise saying the district is one area where malaria is a burden due to stagnant waters during flooding.
Nyali also disclosed that being a fishing area, the community has made tremendous progress in discouraging the use of mosquito nets for fishing due to bylaws that were established against the malpractice.
The national wide free mosquito nets distribution has been divided in four phases, starting with the Southern region and the campaign is expected to run until March 2022.