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Insecticide-treated nets (ITNs), widely distributed across Ghana as a life-saving measure to combat malaria, are increasingly being misused by some members of the public in Tema.
The nets, intended to protect vulnerable groups, such as pregnant women and children under five, have been diverted to alternative uses, including collecting rubbish, storing plastic bottles, and protecting gardens.
Mr. Anderson Oben Amoako, the Malaria Focal Person for Ada-East, emphasized the critical role of ITNs in preventing mosquito bites and reducing malaria transmission.
Mr. Amoako told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that ”There has been extensive education on the importance of using the nets for their intended purpose.”
He said ITNs have a three-year lifespan, and while recycling expired nets for other uses might not pose a problem, the misuse of newly distributed ITNs undermines the Ghana Health Service’s efforts to combat malaria.
According to him, the nets were treated with insecticides designed to kill insects without bones, and this might be the reason for some people using them for other purposes, as it may help fight other insects, as well as warding off animals from entering gardens.
He said the primary function of ITNs was to serve as a barrier between mosquitoes and their users, offering effective protection, particularly for pregnant women, against pre-term births, miscarriages, and even death.
Mr. Amoako said despite their benefits, some individuals complain that ITNs are too hot or uncomfortable to sleep under stating, however, “It is not the net that is hot; it is the room that is hot.”
He said the Ada East District Health Directorate would continue to intensify public education and awareness campaigns to ensure these vital tools are used appropriately and effectively in the fight against malaria in Ghana.
Source: GNA
