Nkhotakota District Health Office says malaria affects over 80 percent of the district’s population. It called for urgent action to curb the spread of the disease.
Speaking on Monday during the launch of mosquito net distribution campaign, Nkhotakota district health director Jacob Kafulafula said they will distribute insecticide-treated nets as part of efforts to implement the national malaria prevention and treatment policy.
over a net to a beneficiary
He said: “Malaria remains a significant health challenge in Nkhotakota where for every 1 000 people, 823 are affected. This underscores the urgent need for effective interventions.
“The district has previously employed indoor-residual spraying as a preventive measure. However, the distribution of nets is seen as a crucial additional step.”
Speaking on behalf of Nkhotakota district commissioner Ben Tohno, the district’s principal education officer Willard Magunda expressed optimism about the impact of sleeping under the nets.
He urged the community to use the nets correctly and not for other purposes such as fishing.
“It is disheartening to see that people misuse the nets. We need everyone’s cooperation to ensure the initiative achieves its goal of reducing malaria cases in the district,” said Magunda.
One of the beneficiaries, Madalitso Kafelemu, welcomed the initiative.
“I will urge members of my family to sleep under the nets. Malaria is one of the deadly diseases,” he said.
With funding from the United States President’s Malaria Initiative, government is implementing the distribution exercise in Balaka, Mangochi, Nkhotakota, Nkhata Bay and and Salima districts
