Malaria poses a big well being burden in Sierra Leone, with excessive transmission charges year-round. Youngsters beneath 5 and pregnant girls are principally affected, resulting in extreme sickness and demise. The illness strains healthcare sources, hinders financial productiveness, and challenges entry to care, notably in distant areas. Sierra Leone implements preventive measures and collaborates with international well being companions to fight malaria, however challenges persist, highlighting the necessity for sustained efforts to handle this risk to public well being.
As a part of its preventive measures, the Ministry of Well being (MoH) conducts a free Insecticide Handled Internet (ITN) mass distribution marketing campaign each three years to quickly enhance and maintain ITN protection. Consistent with this apply, the MoH is ready to distribute 5,345,236 ITNs throughout the complete nation. The marketing campaign might be formally launched on third Nov 2023 in Bo districts and the nationwide distribution might be from 4-10, November 2023.
To announce the 2023/2024 Nationwide ITNs Mass Distribution Marketing campaign, the MoH, with help from WHO and varied companions, organized a press briefing on the MoH convention corridor within the Youyi Constructing, Freetown, on October 10, 2203. This was important to supply the media with correct, firsthand details about the marketing campaign, with the twin function of lowering misinformation and inspiring lively media participation within the marketing campaign.
Throughout the press briefing, a number of statements had been supplied by companions, with WHO delivering an announcement on behalf of the UN household. Alongside the UN Household, WHO will play a pivotal function in supporting the marketing campaign course of together with the assembling and supervising a staff of unbiased screens. Questions from the press had been raised in the course of the briefing, they usually had been adeptly dealt with by the Ministry of Well being (MoH) and its collaborative companions.
The following steps within the marketing campaign will contain coaching unbiased screens by WHO to make sure high quality assurance and regional engagement of paramount chiefs, mayors, and chairpersons, amongst others.