Ugandans to get free mosquito nets
Apr 12, 2010
ALL Ugandans are to get free insecticide-treated mosquito nets. The first batch of the 17.6 million nets worth $125m will be given out in the central region.
By Conan Businge
and Brenda Asiimwe
ALL Ugandans are to get free insecticide-treated mosquito nets. The first batch of the 17.6 million nets worth $125m will be given out in the central region.
The nets were procured using money from the Global Fund.
After the central region, the Government will switch to western, northern and eastern Uganda.
The health state minister, Richard Nduhura, yesterday flagged off the first consignment in Mukono district.
Seven million nets will be given to pregnant women, and children below five years on the first consignment. Sub-counties that did not receive nets during earlier distributions will be given priority.
The remaining 10.6 million mosquito nets, to be distributed in the second round, will ensure one net for every two people.
With approximately 31 million people in the country, it is anticipated that Ugandans will access free nets from the Government. The nets will supplement the six million distributed in the last three years.
The nets are intended to fight against malaria, the number one killer in Uganda. Anti-malarial drugs will also be given out, according to Nduhura.
Already, indoor spraying of DDT has been approved to kill mosquitoes. Once implemented, the initiatives are expected to reduce malaria in Uganda.
Nduhura said the ministry is working with various agencies to dispatch nets from Kampala to sub-counties, and later to the villages.
He added that training and sensitisation will be done at sub-county and parish levels to ensure the distribution is well coordinated.
Village health teams will visit every home and register occupants.
The country spends about sh12b annually on managing malaria, or about sh40,000 per person.
The Government alone spends sh63b per year, or 10% of the health budget. Despite this, malaria remains the leading cause of illness and deaths in Uganda, killing about 70,000 to 110,000 people annually.
It also accounts for almost 40% of cases at health centres.
Sleeping under an insecticide-treated net is one of the most effective ways to prevent malaria, studies have established.
and Brenda Asiimwe
ALL Ugandans are to get free insecticide-treated mosquito nets. The first batch of the 17.6 million nets worth $125m will be given out in the central region.
The nets were procured using money from the Global Fund.
After the central region, the Government will switch to western, northern and eastern Uganda.
The health state minister, Richard Nduhura, yesterday flagged off the first consignment in Mukono district.
Seven million nets will be given to pregnant women, and children below five years on the first consignment. Sub-counties that did not receive nets during earlier distributions will be given priority.
The remaining 10.6 million mosquito nets, to be distributed in the second round, will ensure one net for every two people.
With approximately 31 million people in the country, it is anticipated that Ugandans will access free nets from the Government. The nets will supplement the six million distributed in the last three years.
The nets are intended to fight against malaria, the number one killer in Uganda. Anti-malarial drugs will also be given out, according to Nduhura.
Already, indoor spraying of DDT has been approved to kill mosquitoes. Once implemented, the initiatives are expected to reduce malaria in Uganda.
Nduhura said the ministry is working with various agencies to dispatch nets from Kampala to sub-counties, and later to the villages.
He added that training and sensitisation will be done at sub-county and parish levels to ensure the distribution is well coordinated.
Village health teams will visit every home and register occupants.
The country spends about sh12b annually on managing malaria, or about sh40,000 per person.
The Government alone spends sh63b per year, or 10% of the health budget. Despite this, malaria remains the leading cause of illness and deaths in Uganda, killing about 70,000 to 110,000 people annually.
It also accounts for almost 40% of cases at health centres.
Sleeping under an insecticide-treated net is one of the most effective ways to prevent malaria, studies have established.