Minister appeals for more malaria sensitization

HEALTH

By Denis Dibele

The level of public awareness on malaria and its preventive measures need to be increased if the disease is to be combatted, the state minister for information communication technology, Nyombi Thembo, has said.

Nyombi was last week addressing residents of Kassanda-Mityana at a function where he distributed healthcare items, including mosquito nets, detergents and clothes to the elderly. The items were donated by Star Times, a pay TV service provider.

He argued that a streamlined nationwide public sensitization campaign on how to avoid mosquitoes is one of the most effective and cheapest interventions.

“Malaria kills more people than any other disease, yet spreading knowledge about the avenues through which it is spread is the cheapest to the country and cushions people against the disease,” Nyombi noted.

He advised private and public health providers at district level to encourage people to clear bushes around their homes, drain stagnant water that serves as breeding areas for mosquitoes, sleep under mosquito nets and seek early medical intervention in case of infections.

Star Times country chief executive officer Kevin Chen emphasized that combatting malaria needs regular sensation.