Two years on, dramatic results from net distribution campaign
| Issifi Sanouna, who led the net distribution and follow up study, describes the impact of free bed nets on families. |
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A woman relaxes under her bednet.
Bednet distribution in Niger.
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The number of cases of malaria in Niger have been cut by one third and the number of people dying of malaria has been reduced by half. Follow-up to a massive bed net distribution campaign shows the nets are being used and are saving lives.
Most Nigeriens know a mosquito net protects against malaria, but at a cost of around $6, a net is beyond the means of many families. The Global Fund funded the free distribution of over two million insecticide treated bed nets and the results have proved dramatic.
Before the campaign, only six percent of homes had a treated bed net and although over half did have some kind of net, only the treated nets are sufficient to effectively prevent malaria. Now, 65 percent of all homes across the country have a treated net.
Niger has the world’s highest infant mortality rate, one child in four does not reach their fifth birthday, often because of malaria. The campaign targeted young children and now three quarters of families with children under the age of five have at least one treated net.
Having a net is one thing, it is also vital it gets used. Niger has the highest fertility rate in the world, with around seven births per woman and pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to malaria so they were also targeted by the campaign. The survey shows that as well as reaching families, the nets are also being used. Half of the pregnant women in the country now sleep under a net.
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