USAID donates 2.2 Million Mosquito Bed Nets to the People of Kogi State
The United States government also provided an additional $1.1 million for logistics, including transportation of the bed nets, community mobilization, and training.
These nets and support for the distribution are a gift from the American people to the people of Kogi State.
USAID’s Director for Health, Population and Nutrition, Nancy Lowenthal, said at the event, that the U.S. government is supporting the efforts of the Government and people of Kogi to protect the health of all, particularly the young and most vulnerable members of society. “I believe that eliminating malaria in Kogi and throughout Nigeria as a whole is possible if we all work together,” she emphasized.
Malaria is one of the leading killers of children and a leading cause of illness in Nigeria, particularly during the rainy season when the mosquito population increases.
Sleeping under an insecticide-treated bed net every night is the best way to prevent malaria. Bed nets put a vital barrier between people and the mosquitoes that carry malaria, particularly during the hours from dusk to dawn. Nightly use of insecticide treated bed nets prevents infections, which in turn prevents the spread of malaria.
Since 2011, the U.S. government has spent more than $420 million to control malaria in Nigeria. Over 50 percent of U.S. government funding for malaria goes into procuring and distributing insecticide treated bed nets, malaria diagnostic kits, and malaria medicines. In addition, the U.S. government supports advocacy and mobilization to encourage members of the community to sleep under the bed nets every night, training of health workers, and test for malaria before treatment.
For additional information, please contact abujadoc@usaid.gov
About USAID: USAID partners to end extreme poverty and promote resilient, democratic societies while advancing our security and prosperity. In its partnership with Nigeria, the United States strengthens social stability through social services, supports transparent and accountable governance, promotes a more marketled economy, and enhances Nigeria’s capacity as a responsible regional and trade partner.
Source - USAID
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