By Brighton Chimsinde

Mchinji, April 21, Mana:  Mchinji District Health Office has started a mass distribution campaign of Insects Treated Nets (ITNs) to curb Malaria.

Speaking Sunday in an interview after touring some of the distribution points, Mchinji District Health Promotion Officer Owen Chatayika said the campaign has been scheduled to run for five days, from Saturday April 19 to 23, 2025 to cover all traditional authorities in the district.

Chatayika said that during the campaign, they are planning to distribute 411,868 ITNs, saying the campaign is being implemented with funding from Global Fund.

“Through the campaign, a household will receive a maximum of two nets depending on its size to achieve universal coverage for ITNS in the population and contribute to an effort of reducing malaria diseases in the district,” Chatayika said.

Chatayika has advised the beneficiaries to use the nets for the intended purpose, saying it will be a waste of resources to use them for fishing, or else in the gardens and other unnecessary things.

"Life is essential, we must always prioritize protecting our lives. When we talk about dangerous diseases that threaten us, Malaria is one of them. It is my plea to everyone, mostly chiefs, to make sure that their subjects utilize these mosquito nets properly,” he said.

Chataika said the campaign has started very well and hopes that by the end of the distribution period all targets will be met.

"We scheduled to distribute the nets within five days as per our plan. I am sure that within this period everyone who got registered will receive their nets," he said.

One of the beneficiaries at Ludzi Centre from Khombe Village, T/A Zulu, Misilata Mwale and a young woman, Natasha Zulu of Mulime Village T/A Zulu hailed the initiative saying it will help to prevent malaria.