Pakwach district has recieved 133,833 Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs) from the Health Ministry in a bid to reduce the high malaria burden there. Malaria is the leading cause of ill health in both children and adults in Pakwach district accounting for 42.2%.
Furthermore, malaria remains the top cause of Morbidity in Children of less than 5 years representing 10.55%, according to information from the District Health Office. Dr. Paul Ajal, the Pakwach District Health Officer, says that they plan to roll out the mass distribution of the Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets nets this week since the registration of the residents is nearly complete.
In November last year, when the Ministry of Health implemented the Indoor Residual Spraying in West Nile in an attempt to eradicate the high malaria burden in the sub-region, Pakwach district was among the four administrative units that missed out on the exercise. Others are Zombo and Nebbi district, and Arua city which were expected to benefit in the second phase of the Programme due in 2024.
Harriet Amia, the Pakwach district Health Educator who also doubles as the District Malaria Focal Person welcomes the intervention by the Ministry of Health noting that malaria still remains a top killer disease. Amia cautioned the residents against selling the nets and misusing the mosquito nets for tethering the roofs of their grass-thatched houses and animals.
According to the planned distribution guidelines, two members of a household are entitled to one mosquito net. The government last distributed the Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs) to Pakwach district during the 2020/2021 financial year.
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