By CHILA NAMAIKO –
HEALTH authorities in Choma District in Southern Province have made steady progress in distributing insecticide-treated mosquito nets to expectant mothers, reaching a target of 170,000.
This is in an effort to reduce malaria cases, particularly among expectant mothers in rural areas, who become vulnerable to the killer disease.
Although the district had in the last few years recorded a reduction in malaria cases, Government remained resolute to continue reducing them.
Principal environmental health officer Likando Mukelabai said the district medical office was also carrying out a vigorous Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) exercise in malaria-prone areas.
About 170,000 expectant mothers had since received the mosquito nets while the IRS programme was progressing well in areas such as Masuku, Nakeempa, Sikalongo, Simeno and Simakutu.
Mr Mukelabai was speaking when he presented a report from the medical office during a recent District Epidemic Preparedness Committee (DEPC) meeting.
He said expectant mothers and the under-five children could access the nets from all health centres in the district.
“The distribution exercise of treated mosquito nets is going on smoothly and these facilities are being given out free of charge in all the health centres,” he said.
He observed that malaria was prevalent in areas bordering districts with high cases namely, Sinazongwe, Pemba and Gwembe.
This was because such districts were surrounded by water bodies conducive for the breeding of mosquitoes.
The Choma Municipal Council recently advised residents not to cultivate maize in their backyards this farming season to reduce breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
DEPC chairperson Vincent Sikanyeela called for concerted efforts of the residents in fighting malaria.
Mr Sikanyeela, who is the district administrative officer, warned against the misuse of treated nets.