By James Danjuma, Katsina
No fewer than 5.22 million insecticide treated mosquito nets are to be distributed to residents of Katsina state to check malaria and related diseases.
The treated nets are to be distributed by the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) in collaboration with the state government.
The distribution is to commence on March 3, and it will last for 12 days.
The state Commissioner for health, Abdullahi Danja stated this on Wednesday at a public forum for stakeholders in the distribution campaign.
“The Katsina State Government in collaboration with the National Malaria Elimination Programme with funding from the Global Fund Malaria Project, in its efforts to eliminate malaria have commenced the process of the 2022 Insecticide Treated Nets mass campaign in the state,” Danja said.
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He added that the distribution is to be done from house to house, and that an additional two days would be set aside to ensure houses not reached would get to receive the nets.
Speaking, NMEP’s representative, Mrs Hope Obokoh said malaria takes a toll on 97% of Nigerians, especially children under five years and pregnant women.
Obokoh added that an estimated 30% of child and 13% of maternal deaths each year are due to malaria.
She said, “Malaria can be prevented by not allowing mosquitoes to bite us and one assured way of doing this is to sleep under ITN.”
Residents were also told not to wash the nets with detergent and should not be exposed to direct sunlight to protect the chemicals used in treating the nets.
During the event, representatives of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Society for Family Health (SFH), and Catholic Relief Services (CRS), called on residents to collect and ensure proper use of the nets.
