Traditional Authority (T/A) Zulu of Mchinji has appealed to government to supply additional mosquito nets in the district.
Speaking during the 2019 World Malaria Day commemorations at Magawa Secondary School ground in the district on Friday, Zulu said some households were omitted during the national distribution exercise last year.
He said: “Communities have started appreciating the importance of sleeping under nets. The cultural beliefs which were discouraging them from using the nets have now been overcome.”
In her response, Mchinji district commissioner (DC) Rosemary Nawasha assured the gathering that those that were left out in the net distribution exercise would be assisted accordingly.
She said the council is committed to ensuring that the fight against malaria in the district is enhanced at all levels.
During the event, World Vision Malawi (WVM) announced it has established a mechanism to make follow ups on the Global Fund mosquito nets that were distributed to ensure they are being put to intended use.
WVM Global Fund Programme chief of party Alexander Chikonga said the organisation is doing Hung Up Campaign where they are encouraging recipients of the distributed mosquito nets to sleep under the net throughout the year.
He said: “We are using care groups through cluster leaders to ensure that those that receive the nets are using them properly.”
On his part, Ministry of Health Principal Secretary Dr Dan Namarika urged traditional leaders to formulate by-laws on the use of bed nets.
He said: “District councils have a responsibility to ensure that malaria prevention is given a top priority in the funds allocations.”
Government and Global Fund Campaign Team selected WVM to be a principle recipient for the malaria component grant. n
