By Andrew Phiri

BALAKA, November 5, Mana: As the country is approaching the rainy season, government has launched the 2024 Mosquito Nets Mass Distribution Campaign with a target of reaching to over 19 million people with 11.7 million insecticides treated mosquito nets to eradicate malaria.

Speaking during the launch on Monday in Balaka, Deputy Minister of Health, Halima Daudi said government is committed to eliminate malaria through initiatives such as distribution of mosquito nets and Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS).

Daudi said malaria is a national and global health concern especially to children and pregnant women hence government intends to eliminate the disease by 2030.

"Government is making huge progress in fighting malaria and through the 2023-2030 malaria strategic plan, we are optimistic to eliminate the disease by 2030.

“We are also doing various initiatives such as going to the communities across the country to sensitize people so that they should be using the mosquito nets," she said.

She therefore bemoaned the tendency of some households who sell the nets and also use them for fishing and household gardens fences saying this forces government to lose a lot of money to procure additional nets.

United States President's Malaria Initiative (PMI) Residents Advisor, Dr. Janell Routh said through USAID, they are committed to work with government to eliminate the disease especially among children and pregnant women.

"Since 2006, USAID has spent almost 400 Million Dollars to help ending malaria in Malawi. We have dropped the malaria mortality rate by over 60 percent so this means children and women are living longer and healthier," she said.

Meanwhile, a Representative from World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Michael Kayange said annually over 250 million people suffer from Malaria globally and their organization is working collaboratively with various stakeholders to achieve a universal health coverage.

He pointed out that only 57 percent of people use nets in the country hence encouraging all communities to make full use of nets.

With funding from Global Fund Initiative, government has rolled out 2024 Mosquito Nets Distribution Campaign and the event held in Balaka also marked the commemoration of Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) malaria week.