Free treated bednets for pupils, nine regions covered

A total of 1,237, 200  pupils from both private and public schools in  nine regions of the country have received insecticide-treated  bednets free of charge from  the National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP).

Beneficiaries of the nets were pupils in Primary Two and Six.

Schoolchildren in the Eastern Region  who were not served during the distribution of the bednets  would be supplied  by  the end of the month.

In an interview with the Technical Director of Networks Ghana, a USAID-funded health project,  Mr Felix Nyanor-Fosu, he explained that  pupils in the Eastern Region were not served  because the nets were not enough to cover them at the time.

He, however, explained that some pupils in Classes Two and Six in that region had earlier received the nets  during a pilot programme.

Mr Nyanor-Fosu said pupils in Classes Four and Five would receive the nets  at the  end of this month.

He said the children received a family-size net because it was believed they would share it with their siblings.

Mr Nyanor-Fosu said the distribution, which would be done annually, would  start in March next  year before  the rainy season so that beneficiaries would put it to good use.

He commended the  coordinators of the School Health Education Programme (SHEP) and the district directors of education for making the exercise a success.

Mr Nyanor-Fosu,  however, said  students in second cycle institutions would have to buy the nets at a reduced price, because it had been highly subsidised.

He said after paying for the nets, the students would be provided with vouchers to present  at retail shops for collection.

By Hannah A Amoah/Junior Graphic/Ghana