Editor,

I have read a letter in The Newtimes of Tuesday titled "Where are the mosquito nets?” The letter was in reference to what a government official, Dr Karema, who had earlier been quoted in the same paper reacting to the 2010 WHO Malaria Report 2010.

In the interview, Dr Karema mentioned the big quantity (around 3 million) of mosquito nets which were distributed in 2010, but reportedly failed to confirm whether this whole quantity ever reached the intended beneficiaries.

Personally, I have the same concern. I have heard many stories and impressive figures about mosquito nets being distributed throughout the country but once you visit these households, you don’t see the mosquito nets.

I am not disputing the fact that the mosquito nets are being distributed in large quantity but they don’t seem to reach the targeted beneficiaries. Sometime in the past, there were reports that once the mosquito nets are distributed, some beneficiaries sell them cheaply to neighboring countries and turn around to claim that they never received the nets. Surely, a systematic audit must be carried out.

Charles Mbonigaba
Kimisagara