Friday 27 April 2012

MISUSE OF INSECTICIDE TREATED MOSQUITO NETS WORRIES KALOMO DC


The District administration in Kalomo has expressed concern over the misuse of Insecticide Treated Mosquito Nets (ITNs) by some people in the communities.
District Commissioner, Omar Munsanje has since directed all concerned authorities to ensure that the vice comes to an end and to let the mosquito nets be used for their intended tasks.
Speaking at the commemoration of the World Malaria day in Luyaba area in Kalomo district yesterday, Mr Munsanje expressed concern that some people were reportedly using the ITNs to make chicken run fencings, making wedding dress laces and some using them for fishing purposes.
He said this action by some communities was saddening especially that malaria poses a significant burden on the health system and economy in general.
Malaria accounts for 40 per cent of all outpatient attendance during the peak transmission period and 15 to 20 deaths in under five children while it is rated third leading cause of morbidity and mortality across all age groups after HIV and AIDS and Tuberculosis in Zambia.
In Kalomo district, malaria has been the leading cause of morbidity and mortality after Pneumonia and hence the combined interventions with communities and collaborating partners to eradicate the disease.
The district has five top facilities with high malarial incidences with Simwatachela area topping the list with 1,500 cases, Luyaba 1,479, Kanchele with 1,099, Mapatizya with 567 and Kalemu having 312 incidences.
The district has so far received 159,800 ITNs and is waiting for guidelines from the national malaria control centre on how to evenly distribute them to the four  chiefdoms of the district in an effort to combat malaria.
According to World Health Organisation (WHO) 2010 report, 216 million
malaria cases were reported and an estimated 655,000 deaths occurred.
This year the malaria day commemoration theme was "Sustain gains, save lives, invest in Malaria".

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