The Ebonyi Government says it will soon begin the distribution of one point million Long-Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets (LLIN) to households in the state to eradicate malaria.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Daniel Umehzuruike, stated this today in Abakiliki during a lecture on the distribution process and role of the media in the LLIN campaign that the distribution would be carried out in collaboration with the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative and National Malaria Elimination Programme, among other stakeholders.
Umehzuruike added that he expressed the state government’s commitment toward malaria eradication in partnership with relevant agencies.
The Commissioner further stated that the partnership was to control and prevent the scourge and check the fresh outbreak of malaria and yellow fever in the state. Adding that the ministry had carried out an LLIN distribution campaign in 2015 to prevent maternally and child mortality caused by malaria.
Umehzuruike said a survey was conducted to ascertain the efficacy of the previously distributed nets but it was revealed that it had lost sensitivity to repel and kill mosquitoes.
The Commissioner urged the media in the state to support the ministry in its efforts to reduce the scourge by educating the populace on the importance of the mosquito nets, adding that those that would receive the net should not use them to guard their farmlands but for the purpose, it was intended.