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Zanzibar villagers ignore mosquito nets
2006-07-24 09:12:28
By Issa Yussuf, Zanzibar
A good number of rural dwellers in Zanzibar have no or little knowledge on the use of Insecticides Treated mosquito Nets (ITNs), participants in a two-day workshop were told late last week.
The Health Programmes Manager, Deogratus Peter of Africare said his office was aware there was wide improper usage of ITNs in some villages in the isles.
Some villagers do not use mosquito nets given to them, he told a the workshop organised and facilitated by Africare.
Dubbed ’’Malaria Community Mobilization Stakeholders’ Workshop’’ the event held at the Zanzibar Association of the Disabled Hall, Welesi had participants drawn from civic leaders, district and regional administrators and community based organisations.
Participants said some villagers after getting the free nets keep them under the beds.
However, despite the lack of expertise on the use, participants said the appliances had drastically reduced the incidents of malaria infections in the isle.
’’Since Kataa (stop) malaria campaign, which is part of the United States, President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) campaign was launched last December many Zanzibaris have benefited and malaria infections have dropped,’’ Africare Health Programmes Manager said.
Only children (under five) and pregnant women are get long lasting mosquito nets for free.
About 200,000 nets have been distributed in Unguja and Pemba, he said.
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