Cameroon Tribune: Over 8.7 Million Insecticidal Nets For Cameroonian Families
25 August 2011
Over 8.7 Million Insecticidal Nets For Cameroonian Families
21 Août 2011 Emmanuel KENDEMEH National - Politique
Cameroon's Prime Minister, Philemon Yang, representing the Head of State, Paul Biya, on August 20, 2011 at the Yaounde Multi-purpose Sports Complex, launched the national campaign for the free distribution of 8,654,731 long lasting insecticidal nets to all Cameroonian families as a means of effectively fighting malaria. The campaign which is part of the project, "Scaling up malaria control for impact 2010-2014", estimated to cost FCFA 34 billion, is financed by the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Cameroon government and other partners.
The Prime Minister before handing over symbolic nets to two families, called on all stakeholders to ensure the success of the campaign. While stating that the fight against malaria must be maintained and sustained, he called on the population to effectively use the insecticide treated mosquito bed nets. This call came after a demonstration exercise on setting up the nets.
Malaria Situation
The Country Representative of the United Nations Children Emergency Fund for (UNICEF), Ora Musa Clemens Hope in a release circulated during the occasion, said malaria remains a major public health problem in Cameroon. It is the leading cause of mortality in the country. Prime Minister Yang said 40 percent of consultations in health structures are related to malaria.
Statistics from the Ministry of Public Health show that the mortality rate related to malaria is 24 percent, morbidity rate 36 percent and the yearly Gross Domestic Products loss is 1.3 percent. The ongoing campaign is to achieve Millennium Development Goals 3, 4 and 5 by 2014.
Mosquito Nets
Public Health Minister Andre Mama Fouda, said the Population Service International bought the insecticidal nets from the manufacturing industry and transported them to Cameroon's Regional headquarters. He disclosed that those for the South Region will arrive in the coming few days. The nets are treated right from the manufacturing industry homologated by the World Health Organisation. Minister Mama Fouda disclosed that the nets are not toxic to human beings but kill any mosquito that comes in contact with it. They remain effective for at least three years and can be washed for over 20 times with simple soap.
Distribution
The 8,654,731 long lasting insecticidal mosquito nets packaged in 476 containers, arrived in the regional headquarters since June 14, 2011, the Public Health Minister revealed. The Cameroon government has the responsibility to transport them to District Hospitals from where they will be distributed to the population. The Minister disclosed that 4,000 distribution sites have been identified nationwide to avoid the population from moving to distant places. Over 40,000 staff drawn from civil society organizations and Community-based Organizations have been recruited from 177 health districts to carry out the campaign. The staff will sensitise the population, conduct a household head count, distribute the nets and help families set them up. During the household head count, the head of each family will receive a ticket indicating the number of family members and the number of nets, the date and where to receive them.
Distribution Criteria
All families residing in Cameroon, irrespective of nationality have to freely receive the nets. The Public Health Minister said 2.2 people are entitled to a net. This means that a family of one to three members will receive one net, which of four to five members will receive two nets etc. From Monday, August 22, 2011, the Minister said, Regional Governors will launch the campaign that is planned to last for only 30 days. By the end of September 2011, all Cameroonian families must have got the nets.
