Anambra begins free distribution of insecticide treated nets, Sunday

 By Rose Oranye

Anambra State Government in collaboration with the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), and Malaria Consortium (MC) with support from GiveWell Open Philanthropic funding, will on Sunday, begin the distribution of   3.8 million insecticide-treated nets through a door-to-door approach in all Anambra communities.

The effort is to eliminate malaria in the state.

Disclosing this at a  media orientation on  Insecticide Treated Nets(ITN) distribution at the Conference Hall of Anambra State Ministry of Health, on Friday, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike, represented by the Director of Public Health, Dr. Afam Cyril Anaeme said the media roundtable was necessary for Ndi Anambra to be well sensitized of program.

The commissioner, who said the objective of the ITN mass campaign is to ensure that "for every two persons in Anambra State, there is one bed-net to sleep inside" urged households to ensure that they have someone at home to collect the nets.

According to him, household registration and simultaneous distribution of net will commence from  August 7 to August 17, 2022.

He said the 2022 Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs) mass distribution is free for every household in the state.

“The newly collected nets must be aired under a shade for 24hrs before hanging and sleeping inside. Bring down the old nets and hang the new ones.

“The mass distribution is led by the Anambra State Ministry of Health through the State Malaria Elimination Programme with Malaria Consortium providing technical support as the implementing partner”, he stated.

The commissioner maintained that despite the challenges posed by the rainy season and others, they have succeeded in moving the nets to all the 21 local government areas of the state and urged residents of the state to cooperate with those recruited for the distribution.

Contributing, the  ITN Campaign Manager for Malaria Consortium, Mrs. Laitan Adeniyi, advised ndi Anambra to desist from using the net for other purposes as witnessed in the past.

One of the facilitators and Drug Demand Consultant, Malaria Consortium, Farouk Mohammed, urged the media to keep malaria issues on the front burner and provide adequate publicity before, during, and after the campaign.

Also, the Technical Workroom Adviser, Malaria Consortium, Dr. Titi Akinlalu, who gave an overview of the ITNs Campaign process disclosed that they have done the micro and macro planning processes for the exercise, adding that the distribution process, which will commence on Sunday, will be followed by a post-implementation process and urged the media to follow the processes to educate the public better.

The state Malaria Programme Manager, Nonso Ndibe, who observed that the last nets were distributed in the state in 2014,  advised residents to use the nets for the right purpose to help eliminate malaria in the state.