ARUSHA, Tanzania, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania will soon distribute 28 million free insecticide-treated nets worth nearly 28 million U.S. dollars to heighten the fight against malaria, an official said Tuesday.
Sixbert Mkude, head of Malaria Diagnoses and Treatment in Tanzania's Ministry of Health, Community Development, Elderly, and Children said currently, malaria remained among the top five killer diseases in the East African nation.
He said in this year's distribution, the priority will be given to malaria-prone regions such as Geita, Kagera, Mwanza, Tabora, Mara, and Kigoma.
Apart from providing free mosquito nets, the official said that the government will also carry out an indoor insecticide-spraying campaign across the country.
"The two approaches will be parallel so that we get the desired impact. People will also be informed on the importance of using mosquito insecticide treated nets in their homes," he said, calling for Tanzanians to effectively take part in the countrywide campaign.
According to Mkude, currently, Tanzania's national malaria prevalence stands at 14 percent.
Citing the Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey and Malaria Indicator Survey 2015/16, Mkude said malaria cases among children under 1 have increased from 9 to 14 percent between 2010 and 2015/2016.
