The Ghana Health Service (GHS) in the Volta region is set to distribute a total of 1,205,625 long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets to 466,857 registered households in the region.
According to the health directorate, the nets have a three-year chemical life span and can be washed 20 times only.
The exercise is a tool by the GHS and its partners to eliminate malaria in Ghana. Currently, Ghana is in the elimination programme and regions such as Greater Accra and Volta Regions are doing well in the programme.
Speaking during the media and stakeholders meeting in Ho on Monday (8 April 2024) to announce the commencement of the mass distribution, Volta regional director of health, Chrysantus Kubio said “A total of 1,204,625 long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets will be distributed over the five days of the campaign in the Volta Region.”
Kubio said, “The campaign aims to achieve the following objectives, to register at least 90% of all households in the region (including barracks and quarters of key institutions), to distribute LLINS to at least 90% of all registered households.”
“The general population of the region regardless of age, and nationality would receive bed nets based on household registration using the universal coverage approach of one (1) bed net to two (2) persons. Each household can only receive a maximum of five bed nets,” he said.
To benefit from the distribution, Kubio said “One must belong to a household within the community and be registered and present either of the following, unique code generated after registration, ID number used for registration, the household head name used for registration, contact number used for registration”.
A registered 466, 857 total households with a population of 2,094,944 are to be covered using the universal coverage approach.
As part of this year’s campaign, a new variable “households refused to be registered” has been introduced and a total of 3,563 households have refused to be registered across the region for various reasons”.
Togbega Gabusu VII, Paramount Chief of Gbi Traditional Area was the chairman of the occasion. On his part, he commended the GHS and it’s partners for their efforts in fighting the “silence killer” malaria and urged the directorate to ensure fair distribution of the nets.
Deputy Volta regional health director, Kwasi Dzokoto explained that the distribution will be done within the various communities at a particular location.
“A point mass distribution approach would be used at selected locations within communities called distribution points”.
Reporting by Albert Kuzor in the Volta Region
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