Malaria Consortium said it has commenced the distribution of 3.8 million insecticide-treated nets across Anambra State to check the spread of the disease.

The West and Central Africa Programme Director of Malaria Consortium, Dr. Kolawole Maxwell, made the disclosure, yesterday, in Awka, when Governor Charles Soludo flagged off the distribution campaign organised by the state’s Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health.

Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, Maxwell said that Malaria Consortium had secured about 14 million dollars to procure and commence the distribution campaign, adding that the funds came from international philanthropists in response to a cost-effective malaria intervention in the state.

He recalled that the last time international partners funded malaria intervention was in 2014, but that the consortium had secured about 14 million dollars to procure and distribute highly cost-effective Piperonyl Butoxide (PBO) insecticide-treated nets to provide additional public health benefits over conventional ones.

In his speech, Soludo urged parents, and traditional and community leaders to help mobilise households during the distribution exercise in their communities.

He said the campaign for zero-malaria was to help residents understand the significance of the net intervention to prevent malaria-related deaths, and charged residents to complement the government’s efforts by imbibing healthy living and environmental hygiene to reduce or kick-out malaria in Anambra.