ITN Distribution: Why we embarked on post distribution survey in Anambra – Donors
Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
Malaria Consortium (MC), an International non-governmental organization says it has begun the process of survey on the recently concluded free Insecticide-treated net distribution of (ITN) in Anambra State.
The survey followed the distribution of 3.8 million Insecticide-treated nets to residents by trained personnel of the Malaria Consortium group.
Eighty-four Campaign Monitoring Team were trained to monitor the 12-day distribution exercise with a view to capturing data for the evaluation of the distribution process that took place across the 21 LGAs of the State.
Speaking during the 1-day training of the monitoring team in Awka, Anambra State capital, Mrs Laitan Adeniyi, the ITN Campaign Manager, Malaria Consortium, said the assignment was to randomly select houses of beneficiaries and ask them questions about the nets received.
According to her, “four persons would be deployed in each of the 21 Local Government Areas of the state. In the course of the assignment, the team would find out if the beneficiaries have started using the nets they received, and if not, why?”
She said the objective of the ‘End Process’ survey is to provide a quick information on the quality of the distribution for informed decision making and follow up actions.
Earlier, Mrs Titilope Akinlalu, Technical Work Stream Advisor, Malaria Consortium, said that the end process results will also guide subsequent campaigns in the state.
Akinlalu urged the field workers to be thorough and accurate in their data collation, saying that the technological devices provided to them would give details on how best or otherwise they performed.
A representative of National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), Federal Ministry Health, Mr Boniface Pupshep, said that past findings have showed that some beneficiaries of ITNs do not sleep inside the nets.
He blamed high incidences of mortality and morbidity relating to malaria scourge on ignorant of most Nigerians to effectively use the ITN.
Mr Tunde Ibileye, Consultant to Malaria Consortium on Field Security Awareness advised the participants to shun arguments and confrontation in the field, but should apply wisdom while engaging the people.
OrientDaily reports that the Malaria Consortium, in collaboration with Anambra State government, embarked on the free distribution of ITN to eliminate malaria scourge in Anambra state.
The donation came from Give-well Open Philanthropic Funding with support from Anambra State Government and National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP).The 12-days free net distribution exercise lasted from 7th to 20th, August 2022.
