HOUSEHOLDS with pregnant women and under-five children in three wards of Kahama District, Shinyanga Region, have been given over 1,000 insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs) in a new drive to curtail spread of malaria.

The mosquito nets have been given by Barrick Bulyanhulu Gold Mine to two groups in Bugarama, Bulyanhulu and Mwingiro wards.

 Speaking here at the weekend soon after receiving the donation, Dr Beatha Kahikye, medical officer in charge of Bugarama Health Centre said malaria as a major challenge in the area and the country at large hence, the support is timely taking into account that infections become rampant during rainy seasons.

 “This campaign is very important as it goes hand in hand with sensitization of residents of the three wards on how to prevent malaria,” she said.

 She suggested the need for households to take advantage of the campaign to enhance their health status and ensure sound sleep at night while protected from malaria-spreading mosquitoes.

 Sylvanus Tumaini, acting manager of the mine’s health department, said the donation was part of its campaign aimed at ensuring zero malaria in the area.

 He said the move also meant to complement the government’s efforts on malaria eradication in the country.

 Tumaini said under-five children who got the mosquito nets were selected from 16 primary schools in the wards.

 “We fight this killer disease by ensuring that women and children are protected; we do this by educating the public surrounding our mine,” he said.

Malaria, a life-threatening disease caused by parasites transmitted to people through the bites of infected female anopheles mosquitoes, is both preventable and curable.