Govt. warns against sale of mosquito nets
The Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has reported the mosquito bed nets that were distributed free of charge among households across the country are being sole to the public by unscrupulous individuals.
The Liberian government is however warning Liberians against misuse of the US$2.8 Million long lasting insecticide bed-nets recently donated by the Roll-Back Malaria Partnership with support from Global Fund.
The head of Liberia’s Malaria Control Program, Oliver Pratt, said it was unfortunate that some individuals were diverting use of the nets for commercial purposes and other forms of unfortunate usage.
He told a local radio talk show “Truth Breakfast Show” in Monrovia that the Public Health Law of Liberia will be reviewed to enable government take necessary action against individuals caught selling the mosquito insecticide bed nets to the public.
Mr. Pratt disclosed that over 2,645,000 nets have been successfully distributed to households across Liberia free of charge, which accounts for 93 percent of the total nets, saying, “There will be a progressive report on the distribution of the nets.”
The NewDawn recently reported that Liberians without fear were selling the mosquito bed nets in various forms to find food since government is unable to provide jobs for her citizens.
The nets were recently distributed to various homes in Monrovia and other parts of the country by the Ministry of Health to fight against malaria, a killer disease.
Distribution of the mosquito nets began here on Saturday, April 25, 2015, which coincided with celebration of World Malaria Day. A proclamation by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf declared the day as a working holiday, observed throughout the Republic of Liberia.
[bsa_pro_ad_space id=1]
However, after the distribution exercise, the nets are now being used by Liberians for different purposes such as scrubbing tower to bath, far from the intended purpose of fighting malaria. Many local vendors cut them into pieces for sale as low as 25 Liberian Dollars apiece.
Meanwhile, Mr. Pratt is urging Liberians to use the mosquito nets to fight malaria, noting that the Government of Liberia is seriously concerned about reduction of maternal and child mortality throughout the country. By Ethel A. Tweh – Editing by Jonathan Browne
