Three Million Mosquito Nets to be Distributed in Sierra Leone

A massive campaign to distribute three million mosquito nets began in Sierra Leone in an effort to cut malaria by up to 40 percent in the country of six million people.

"It is the most radical move ever embarked on against the disease in Sierra Leone," Dr Foday Samai, a member of the campaign team, told AFP.

Malaria - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Prevention, Treatment
Malaria is caused by a parasite that enters blood through the bite of an infected mosquito. It is characterized by fever, vomiting, shivering, sweating and other symptoms.

UNICEF Immunization Specialist Nuhu Maksha explained that "every household in the country will receive one to three long-lasting insecticide treated nets (LLIN) depending on the size of the family."

Each net costs some six dollars and lasts up to five years.

A 2009 epidemiological report published by the health ministry ranked malaria as the number one cause of outpatient visits to hospitals throughout the country.

About Mosquito Diseases
Mosquito-borne diseases, like malaria, filaria, dengue, etc are common in places conducive of mosquito breeding. Swamps, ponds and stagnated drainage provide optimal breeding ground for mosquitoes.

It also indicated there was a high resistance among Sierra Leoneans to the malaria drug chloroquine.

According to health ministry statistics, the average Sierra Leonean suffers three to four bouts of malaria per year.

Health Effects of Global Warming
Greenhouse effect causes excessive heat to build up in the earth’s atmosphere causing global warming and affects the environment and health.

The 20-million-dollar campaign to distribute mosquito nets has been funded by the World Bank, the British Department for International Development (DFID), the Federation of the International Red Cross, the United Methodist Church and other health partners.

In Bo, the country's second largest city, distribution began early Friday with housewives opening their doors to the team.

"This is like giving us a Christmas present for our health," said 45-year-old Sarah Daramy who has three children.

"We cannot afford to buy the net as my husband is only a farmer. Now we can sleep in peace."

In Makeni, in the north, 200 miles (320 kilometres) from the capital Freetown, the distribution took on a carnival-like atmosphere as local bands and musicians moved around with the team.

Source-AFP