N/R to start free distribution of treated mosquito nets

The Northern Regional Directorate of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), in collaboration with partner agencies, is to distribute free treated mosquito nets to the public aimed at curbing the spread of malaria.

The partner agencies include Global Fund, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), World Vision and UKAID.

Dr. Akwasi Twumasi, Northern Regional Director of the GHS who announced this in a speech read for him at a press briefing in Tamale on Tuesday, said 1.3 million pieces of treated mosquito nets had been earmarked for the exercise in the region.

He said a team of volunteers had already visited most houses in the region to register their occupants to enable them to benefit from the exercise.

Dr. Felicia Amoo-Sakyi, Program Officer of the National Malaria Control Program, said it was important that all children under the age of five, as well as pregnant women slept under treated nets.

Dr. Amoo-Sakyi said with the inception of the exercise, mortality rate had reduced from 2.8 in 2010 to 1.8 in 2011.

She called on the public to embrace sleeping under treated nets to avoid the spread of malaria, which is one of the top killer diseases in sub Sahara Africa.**