Renewed hygiene, malaria campaign launched in Bugesera

The Government has launched a year-long renewed campaign against malaria and poor hygiene in households. Prime Minister Anastase Murekezi launched the drive on Saturday in Bugesera District. Addressing residents after a community work, Umuganda, at Mandela Genocide Survivors Village, Murekezi said: “It is time to stop indifference from both government and residents that caused a rise in malaria cases.” The cases from four years ago have quadrupled up to about two million people affected by malaria as people continue to ignore preventive measures while also using substandard mosquito bed nets, the premier said. Bugesera is among 10 districts that are most affected by malaria. The premier said by April, the most vulnerable districts will have had indoor residual spraying. He said mosquito nets to be imported are being tested to assess their standards. More than five million bed nets are to be distributed, starting with 891,000 long lasting bed nets whose distribution starts in a few weeks, while one million bed nets will be distributed in April. The country registered an increase in malaria cases from 514,173 in 2012 to 1,957,000 in 2015. However, there was a slight decline of malaria deaths from 499 to 424 during the same period. Murekezi also urged the residents to improve hygiene in homes so as to avoid breeding environment for mosquitoes. Lack of proper hygiene is the most pressing issue in communities and households, MPs said last week after their countrywide welfare and development assessment tour, calling for wider efforts to improve hygiene from the grassroots. Premier Murekezi said 54,000 students undertaking national service should be engaged in the campaign to combat malaria, illiteracy, and hygiene as well as eradicating malnutrition among children aged under five. He urged residents to participate in this month’s local leader’s elections and vote responsible leaders to tackle their problems. During the same meeting, residents were sensitised on the need to support school feeding in twelve years basic education schools. Odette Uwamariya, the governor of Eastern Province, said the region had started new initiative since July last year for every district, to assess hygiene status to be reported every month and quarterly at provincial level. She said local government authorities also started another campaign to eradicate malnutrition, where committees have been established down to village level to report to the Local Government ministry every month on the progress. For better conditions of health, the governor also appealed for support to 29 survivors in Mandela Genocide Survivors’ Village whose houses need rehabilitation and are yet to benefit from the cows given under Girinka programme. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Renewed hygiene, malaria campaign launched in Bugesera