CONHNOL distributes mosquito nets

A non-governmental organization, Consortium of National Health NGOs of Liberia, or CONHNOL in corroboration with Global Fund has begun distributing mosquito nets across Liberia.

Speaking to this paper Wednesday, 29 April the Executive Director for CONHNOL, Gabriel C. Starks, said malaria remains number one public health disease around the world, so CONHNOL is in the vineyard fighting the malaria, which he described as one of the leading causes of deaths in Africa with Liberia being no exception.

Director Starks disclosed that each year, 21,000 children under age 5 in Liberia died from malaria so the current bed nets distribution is aimed at reducing the rate of deaths by malaria in the Country.

He said the organization has brought 1.9 million pieces of nets in the Country to be distributed throughout Liberia after which, it is expected the rate of malaria-related deaths will decrease.  

According to him, not everybody, who died during the heat of the Ebola epidemic, was due to Ebola, adding most of the deaths could be traced to malaria, but due to break down in the health system, every death was attributed to the Ebola Virus Disease.

Mr. Starks has meanwhile appealed to residents to exercise patience as the team carrying on the distribution exercise will reach every community, but warns that the nets are not for sale.

Madam Musu Johnson, a beneficiary and resident of the Borough of New Kru Town, expressed delight for the mosquito net and thanked CONHNOL for the distribution. Madam Johnson noted that mosquitoes are a serious problem in the community.

The distribution comes a week after Liberia celebrated World Malaria Day along with other nations around the world.