Dowa Communities challenged on proper net usage
Health officials in collaboration with World Vision Malawi (WVM) in Dowa have appealed to communities in the district to use nets properly as government rolls out a nationwide mosquito net distribution exercise.
Speaking in an interview, Dowa district environmental health officer Mavuto Thomas said using nets for other purposes defeats the purpose of the project.
from Mitomoni (R)
He said this on Friday during a mosquito net distribution exercise in all the seven traditional authorities in the district.
“Nets are not supposed to be used for gardening, fishing or other things other than malaria prevention,” he said.
Thomas said last year, 35 to 40 percent of out-patients cases were due to malaria.
“This shows malaria is a big problem and a burden to the health system,” he said.
Dowa district WVM programmes manager Robert Mitomoni said they are targeting 5.5 million childrend with life changing interventions.
“We are distributing almost 472 000 against 566 000 people that registered for nets in the district. We are only complementing government’s efforts in the fight against malaria which is one of the fastest killer diseases,” he said. n
