UNICEF to distribute over two million mosquito nets in Ghana

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in collaboration with Creative Storm, a media organization, will distribute over two million treated mosquito nets in Ghana to children under two years on November 1-5.

The exercise is part of an extended programme for the National Immunization Day and a campaign against malaria in Ghana held annually to sensitize the population, especially mothers, about the importance of immunization, Ghana News Agency reported Wednesday.

The week-long programme is also meant to boost the chances of child survival for millions of children across Ghana.

Victor Ankrah, Project Officer at the Child Health Department of UNICEF, who announced the programme at a two day workshop for media practitioners nation wide, said there would be about 9,050 immunization points around the country where the treated nets would also be distributed.

He said an estimated 5.4 million children would receive the long-lasting bed nets and there would be people to ensure that all children were reached.

"Malaria is hyper-endemic and claims one-quarter of all under- five deaths every year. It claims about 20,000 young lives a year, " Ankrah said.

He said the programme was also in line with the objective of the Millennium Development Goal of promoting child survival and growth.

He mentioned the use of treated nets, indoor residual spraying and the giving on anti-malaria drugs to pregnant women as some preventive measures needed to reduce malaria cases and child mortality.

"Early treatment of malaria is critical to reducing incidence of death caused by the disease," Ankrah advised.

He announced that the programme would in addition to supplying the treated bed nets provide children with Vitamin A supplement, measles and polio vaccinations, de-wormers and Oral Re-hydration Salts as well as advise nursing mothers on the importance of exclusive breastfeeding within the first six months of child birth.

Source: Xinhua