By Sarah Phiri

Mzimba, March 26, Mana:  Chief Preventive Health Officer for Mzimba District Health Office (DHO), Bestido Nkhoma, has disclosed plans to distribute 469,169 long lasting insecticide treated mosquito nets.

Nkhoma made the revelation Tuesday during a briefing and orientation meeting for District Executive Committee members.

He called for collective efforts when registration for the exercise starts in April.

“We are going to start registration of household next month. This process is very crucial as it determines the number of beneficiaries. Therefore, we ask each one of us to encourage people in the communities to register in large numbers so that we can win the fight against Malaria in the district,” Nkhoma said.

The nets are treated with chemicals that have a lifespan of three years before they can be retreated.

Nkhoma said the nets will help households to stay protected for a long period of time.

He, therefore, pleaded with the would-be recipients to use the nets for its intended purpose.

“We are pleading with the people of Mzimba to desist from using the nets for vegetable farming and fishing activities.

“Malaria is a dangerous disease hence distributing the nets to protect people from mosquitoes so that we reduce malaria in the district,” Nkhoma said.

One of the participants, John Mwambughi, an Economist at M’mbelwa District Council hailed the DHO for the initiative stating that it would help save lives.

“I commend the DHO for being proactive. It is disheartening to lose loved ones to a disease that can be prevented. With this campaign, some of these deaths will be prevented hence saving resources spent on Malaria,” said Mwambughi.

The exercise that will be carried out using door to door approach targeting about 187,011 households in the district is being funded by Global Fund to the tune of K251 million.