Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
A group known as Malaria consortium will Sunday August 7, 2022 begin the distribution of over 3.8 million mosquito nets in communities in Anambra State.
This was made known at a media orientation on insecticide treated nets distribution by the government in collaboration with the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), Malaria Consortium (MC) and Give Well Open Philanthropic funding.
Speaking at the event, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike, represented by the Head of Department of Public Health and Disease Control in the Ministry, Dr Afam Anaeme, said that the nets would be distributed through a door-to-door approach across all the twenty one local government areas of the State.
He also said the household registration and simultaneous distribution of nets will start on Sunday 7th August and that “Households must ensure they have someone at home within this period to collect nets.
“The newly collected nets must be aired under a shade for 24hours before hanging and sleeping inside. That’s after the old ones are brought down.”
Obidike also urged the people to disregard fears of any possible hijacking of the programme by political office holders, noting that various local government areas in the state were not involved in the process and hence could not be accused of hijacking the process.
He said, “It’s unfortunate to hear that government is interfering in the process, when actually government is propelling it.
Earlier, the State Malaria Programme Manager, Mr Nonso Ndibe said the exercise willlast from Sunday, 7th to 17th August, 2022, while charging households to ensure there is someone at home within the period to collect the nets.
The insecticide-treated nets are being distributed as part of efforts to eliminate malaria in Nigeria.
