- Title: TOGO: Togo government targets almost 1 million children in anti-malaria campaign
- Date: 12th December 2008
- Summary: LOME, TOGO (DECEMBER 10, 2008) (REUTERS) HEALTH WORKERS AT DISTRIBUTION POINT BACK OF HEALTH OFFICIAL'S JACKET READING (in French): "INTEGRATED CAMPAIGN 2008/ VITAMIN A, ALBDENAZOLE, MOSQUITO NETS IMPREGNATED WITH INSECTICIDE" VARIOUS OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN QUEUE HEALTH WORKER HANDING OUT MOSQUITO NETS (SOUNDBITE) (French) HODABALO AGBA, HEALTH WORKER, SAYING: "The nets that are being distributed have been treated with insecticide to protect children. We're focusing on malaria among children from zero to five years of age." VARIOUS OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN QUEUE VOGAN, TOGO (DECEMBER 9, 2008) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Ewe) AKOU AKOUYO, VOGAN RESIDENT, SAYING: "We received mosquito nets to protect our children and they asked us to care of them. We welcome this initiative which will save the lives of our children." VARIOUS OF TREATED MOSQUITO NETS AKOUYO WALKING HOME AKOUYO GOING INTO HOME VARIOUS OF AKOUYO PUTTING MOSQUITO NETS IN ROOM AKOUYO'S CHILD SLEEPING IN MOSQUITO NET (SOUNDBITE) (French) KOMLAN MALLY, TOGO HEALTH MINISTER, SAYING: "From December 2007 to February 2008, there was an investigation that was conducted which found that the coverage had reduced. Why was it reduced? Because after 2004, children who received the nets grew up to constitute different age group, and since 2004, a new cohort of children has been born." VARIOUS OF TOGO'S PM, GILBERT HOUNGBO, AND MALLY HEALTH OFFICIAL GIVING VITAMIN A TO A CHILD
- Embargoed: 27th December 2008 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Togo
- Country: Togo
- Reuters ID: LVAC92PZZ6S0RUESPTM9A1H2QY1Q
- Story Text: Togo government targets almost 1 million children in anti-malaria campaign.
Togo's government has launched an anti-malaria campaign that aims to reduce the number of children that are affected by the disease.
According to the UN, malaria is the leading cause of child illness in Togo, and in recent years has been responsible for about 43 percent of medical consultations and 44 percent of children treated in hospital.
Health officials will try to distribute about 850,000 nets all over the country within four days.
"The nets that are being distributed have been treated with insecticide to protect children. We're focusing on malaria among children from zero to five years of age," said Hodabalo Agba, one of the health workers involved in the campaign.
Special attention is being paid to the rural population which suffers more from malaria than people in urban areas where there is better healthcare and awareness of how to prevent the disease.
Health officials and community volunteers trained by the Togolese Red Cross will make house calls to people like Akou Akouyo, who lives in the town of Vogan before and after the campaign to ensure that the nets are being used properly.
"We received mosquito nets to protect our children and they asked us to care of them. We welcome this initiative which will save the lives of our children," Akouyo said.
A similar campaign was organised in 2004 when about 860,000 children were vaccinated against measles, polio and given free mosquito nets.
But Komlan Mally, Togo's Health Minister, says recent studies indicated that it was necessary to repeat the exercise.
"From December 2007 to February 2008, there was an investigation that was conducted which found that the coverage had reduced. Why was it reduced? Because after 2004, children who received the nets grew up to constitute different age group, and since 2004, a new cohort of children has been born," Mally said.
Togo's government is being supported by the Canadian Red Cross and several other aid organisations.
Medical agencies say malaria kills one child every 30 seconds in Africa. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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