NMEP: Edo, others commence distribution of 2.6m mosquito nets

National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) in collaboration with Edo State Government, Roll Back Malaria Programme (RBMP) and Catholic Relief Services (CRS) will August 12, 2017 commence the distribution of 2.6 million free Long Lasting Insecticide Nets (LLINs) to residents in the state.

Hope Obokoh, representatives of National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) who made the disclosure during orientation for Media practitioners in the state as part of activities for Net Replacement Campaign said the programme was funded by Global Fund.

She said the distribution of the free Long Lasting Insecticide Nets would commence between August 12 and 16 respectively.

She added that the about 1.2million mosquitoes nets distributed free to the people of the state in 2012 are to be replaced with 2.6 million nets as a result of the growth in annual population rate of the state.

Obokoh also added that the price of the net was subsidised by government. According to her, we are replacing the nets we distributed in 2012. The cost of each net is between N1000 and N1,500 but now governments subsidized the price. With the subsidisation you can buy a net at about N200.00.

She said the initiative was aimed at providing every household with at least one LLIN, create net culture even after the end of programme and pointing out that a net would only be given to those issued with net card.

Some other objectives enumerated are to maintain utmost biological efficacy against mosquitoes for three years “particularly when they are used under recommendation.”

She further added that the net card would be issued at every household as well as churches and mosques that provide permanent abode for worshippers and not in the hospitals, schools and work place.

The NMEP representative who also lamented that the prevalence of malaria was under-reported in the media, however, maintained that the use of the nets was still the most effective method of prevention, if used consistently.

She posited that about 97 percent of Nigerians are affected by malaria arising from mosquito bites especially children under five years of age and pregnant women and despite the health implications, it also has huge social and economic burden on our communities and country as a whole.

She further opined that billions of Naira is lost to malaria annually in form of treatment cost, prevention and loss of man hours.

In his presentation, the technical advisor to Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Godson Kingsley disclosed that 15,000 personnel would be engaged to assist the group during the distribution process.

Kingsley, however urged intending beneficiaries to use the nets consistently and correctly.

IDRIS UMAR MOMOH, Benin