WA: GHS to distribute 404,000 LLINs to people of UWR

Treated mosquito net

The Regional Health Services is embarking on a hang up campaign of Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets (LLINs) as part of efforts to reduce malaria in the Upper West Region.

The exercise will involve distribution of about 404,000 nets in 1,200 communities.

The exercise to be carried out by the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Ghana Health service (GHS), is supported by the Department for International Development (DFID) and the United Nations International Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Speaking at the inauguration of the Regional planning committee to plan the exercise that will start in February 2012, Dr. Alexis Nang-beifubah, the Regional Director of Health Services, said malaria was the leading cause of death in the country especially among children less than five years.

He said since independence several attempts to eradicate the disease had proved futile and the country continued to lose several millions of cedis in prevention and treatment.

He said net possession was very high but utilisation was low and the reasons were many one of which was poor hanging.

Dr. Nang-beifubah said the Hang-up Campaign would therefore help to improve on utilisation of the LLINs which would in the long run bring about a reduction in malaria.

Alhaji Issahaku Saliah, Upper West Regional Minister, commended the MOH and the GHS for always coming up with strategies to improve on the health of the people and thanked DFID and UNICEF for their support.

Dr. Kofi Issah, Deputy Director of Public Health, said the percentage of households with one net in the Upper West Region was 46% as against 32.6% nationally.

Dr. Issah said the campaign would be a door-to- door affair with volunteers hanging the nets in people’s bedrooms.

GNA