BY JOACKIM KULE
The Ministry of Health disbursed 508, 880 Insecticide Treated Mosquitoes to Kasese District Local Government to be distributed t o the residents as one of the measures to prevent the spread of malaria.
The mosquito nets which have also been distributed to some of the 44 Lower Local Governments in Kasese district are also aimed at reducing the number of uncomplicated malarial occurrences in areas of high malarial transmission by 50%.
According to the information from the Ministry of Health, the yet to be distributed mosquito nets have the capacity of reducing childhood mortality by up to 25%.
This becomes the third phase by the Ministry of Health to carry out mass campaigns against malaria after obtaining grants from the Global Fund.
In 2010/2011, the Ministry of Health rolled out a related campaign targeting the most vulnerable groups like the pregnant women and children under five years while in 2013/2014, the Ministry targeted the whole population and achieved 62% coverage across the country.
Mr. Stephen Bagonza, the Acting Kasese District Health Officer, says the district has been able to receive her batch worth 508,880 mosquito nets that will benefit a population of over 1.1 million people in the district.
According to him, they are currently training Sub-county Chiefs, Town Clerks, Community Development Officers and Gombolola Internal Security Officers (GISOs) so that they also carry out the sensitization to the grass root levels.
But according to an official programme, the distribution exercise of the received nets shall begin next week on Tuesday.
Mr. Bagonza has since discouraged the public from using the mosquito nets for the purposes for which they are not meant.
Mr. Noah Tibamwenda, the Kasese District Vector Control Officer says they will give out the nets basing on the number of people per household.
According to him, the Ministry of Health recommends that each net will be used by two people with a view that they share a single bed.
ENDS
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