The Ministry of Health has commenced preparations for the mass distribution of long lasting insecticide treated mosquito nets in Lugari Sub County. Speaking during a stakeholders meeting held at Homelady Guesthouse in Lumakanda, the area Sub County medical officer of health (MOH) Dr. Mike Ekisa said the purpose of the exercise was to replace those nets
distributed in 2015 which are currently torn or the insecticide used in treat them has expired and can no longer kill mosquitoes.
The MOH said distribution exercise will be conducted in the month of October as part of the bigger campaign to fulfil the universal mosquito nets coverage as a way of reducing malaria prevalence.
However, the health boss said preparations are underway disclosing that a five-day registration exercise will commence on 15 July 2017 and that currently, his department was training officials who will conduct registration.
He said a team comprising of village elders and community health workers under the supervision of health officers will move door to door to register those who will benefit
“We call upon all Lugari residents to register for the nets when our officers come to your household, no person will receive a net if he or she is not registered,” said Dr. Ekisa urging the household heads to ensure they give the exact number of the family members without
exaggeration.
He said the purpose of registration was to help get the exact number of nets to be distributed saying the number of mosquito nets a family gets depends on the number of people in the home. “We count one net for every two people, but if a home has three
people, then we shall give them two,” he said.
Dr. Ekisa explained that to register a person particularly the household head is supposed to present either National Identification Card or passport.
“The same identification document one uses during registration it is what he or she will be required to present while receiving the mosquito nets,” explained Dr. Ekisa.
The MOH warned against politicizing the process especially during this electioneering period saying the exercise has no links to politics and therefore residents should not be afraid to give their IDs for registration purpose.
The official said Lugari was categorized among the highland endemic malaria zones and urged everyone to get treated mosquito net and ensure proper use to help control the spread of the killer disease.