Togo: free distribution of mosquito nets from 7 to 18 October 2023

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Extract from the article: A new national campaign for the free distribution of long-lasting impregnated mosquito nets (LLINs) will be held throughout Togo from 7 to 18 October 2023. The information was given on Tuesday 03 October at a press conference held in Lomé.This 5th ca

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A new national campaign for the free distribution of long-lasting impregnated mosquito nets (LLINs) will be held throughout Togo from 7 to 18 October 2023. The information was given on Tuesday 03 October at a press conference held in Lomé.This 5th campaign aims to help reduce malaria-related morbidity and mortality in Togo. Mosquito nets will be distributed to every household in the country, with one net per bunk or dormitory. The nets will be counted and distributed simultaneously in households by health workers.

A total of 6,547,600 2nd generation LLINs have been purchased by the government and its partners, the Global Fund and the international NGO Against Malaria Foundation (AMF). These LLINs have already been transported to all the villages, neighbourhoods and hamlets for distribution. Distribution will be door-to-door by enumerators or distribution agents.

A total of 30,000 people have been mobilised to implement this campaign, including 18,000 distribution agents and 12,000 supervisors and logisticians. Distribution will take place over 12 days, starting on 7 October in the Plateaux, Maritime and Grand Lomé regions. It will be delayed in the Savanes, Kara and Centrale regions and will start on 9 October because of the chemoprevention campaign for seasonal malaria in children under 5, which will take place before the mosquito net campaign.

It's one thing to have a mosquito net, but the ultimate objective is to use it to prevent the disease.At a time when infectious diseases belonging to the group of viral haemorrhagic fevers, characterised by their vectorial transmission, more specifically through mosquito bites, are increasingly recurrent in West Africa, it is time to launch an urgent appeal for the effective use of the mosquito nets that will be distributed, because prevention is often better than cure. 

The Ministry of Health is calling on the Togolese people to give a warm welcome to the agents responsible for counting households and distributing mosquito nets, and above all to provide them with accurate information about their households.

« Zero Palu Je M'engage » campaign

This campaign is coupled with the "Zero Palu Je M'engage" initiative, which aims to keep malaria at the top of the political agenda, to raise funds to support the fight against malaria and to mobilise everyone, from heads of state to community members.It is also about creating national funds and councils for the fight against malaria and encouraging individuals, families, as well as political, religious and business leaders, to make a personal commitment to ending malaria.

In Togo, malaria is a priority disease because of the high morbidity and mortality associated with it. The number of confirmed cases of malaria in 2021 gives proportional rates of 32% in outpatient care in health facilities, 64% at community level, 20% of hospitalisations and 8% of deaths. In the absence of a vaccine, impregnated mosquito nets provide effective protection against malaria.

William O.