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Expectant mothers now to get treated nets at TSh 500
In an effort to fight against malaria disease in the country, the Government today announced the launch of new Tanzania National Voucher Scheme (TNVS).The new scheme will ensure all expectant mothers and infants in the country access to Long Lasting Insecticide treated Nets (LLINs) with a top up amount of only TSh 500/-
LLIN is a ready- to –use pre treated mosquito nets, which requires no further treatment during its expected life span averaged five years.
Speaking during the official launch of the program, the Minister for Community Development, Gender and Children, Hon. Margaret Sitta said the scheme compliment the already existing countrywide free LLINs distribution to children under five years old.
Pointing out on the difference between the new scheme and the old one, the Minister said that under the new scheme, the client will need a ‘‘top up’’ amount of TSh 500/ to purchase LLINs (Blue and white striped-Olyset net), while the previous scheme expectant mothers and infants were issued with a voucher with a value of TSh 3,250/- at an Ante – Natal Clinics (ANC) which allowed them to buy a net of their choice in any retail shop but they had to spend a variable amount in order to do that depending on the size and type of net they required.
The voucher will continue to be issued at all Ante Natal Clinics in the country and expectant mothers have been urged to attend as early as possible during early pregnancy days.
“The government in collaboration with various donors and stakeholders are very much determines to scale up the fight against malaria and the new TNVS launch today sends out a strong message of our determination,” she emphasized.
Earlier on her speech the Minister said that Malaria remains one of the major threats to public health and economic development in the country and causes an estimated 14 – 18 million new cases annually, resulting in 120,000 deaths. Of these deaths, 70,000 are in children less than five years of age.
She said malaria was the leading cause of outpatients, inpatients, and admissions of children less than five years of age at health facilities. And the disease is considered to be the major cause of the loss of economic productivity in persons 15–56 years of age and an impediment to learning capacity of people 5–25 years of age.
Minister said, “To women who contract malaria during pregnancy run the risk of having low birth weight babies, maternal anemia, impaired fetal growth, spontaneous abortions, stillbirths, and premature babies.”
She called upon all expectant mothers in the country and care takers of infants to make use of the new TNVS and use those treated nets for the intended purpose which is protecting against malaria. Read more...