Yaounde, Cameroon Africa. (Cameroon News) – Cameroon’s Prime Minister, Philemon Yang, representing the Head of State, Paul Biya on August 20, 2011 at the Yaounde Multi-purpose Sports Complex, launched the national campaign for the free distribution of 8,654,731 long lasting insecticidal nets to all Cameroonian families as a means of effectively fighting malaria.

The campaign which is part of the project, “Scaling up malaria control for impact 2010-2014”, estimated to cost FCFA 34 billion, is financed by the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Cameroon government and other partners.

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The Prime Minister, Philemon Yang called on all stakeholders to ensure the success of the campaign. While stating that the fight against malaria must be maintained and sustained, he called on the population to effectively use the insecticide treated mosquito bed nets.

The Country Representative of the United Nations Children Emergency Fund for Children (UNICEF), Ora Musa Clemens Hope in a release during the occasion, said malaria remains a major public health problem in Cameroon.

It is the leading cause of mortality in the country. Prime Minister Yang, said 40 percent of consultations in health structures are related to malaria. Statistics from the Ministry of Public Health show that the mortality rate related to malaria is 24 percent, morbidity rate 36 percent and the yearly Gross Domestic Products loss is 1.3 percent. The ongoing campaign is to achieve Millennium Development Goals 3,4 and 5 by 2014.

Public Health Minister Andre Mama Fouda, said the Population Service International bought the insecticidal nets from the manufacturing industry and transported them to Cameroon’s Regional headquarters.

The nets are treated right for the manufacturing industry homologated by the World Health Organisation. Minister Mama Fouda disclosed that the nets are not toxic to human beings but kill any mosquito that comes in contact with it. They remain effective for at least three years and can be washed for over 20 times with simple soap.

The 8,654,731 long lasting insecticidal mosquito nets arrived the regional headquarters since June 14, 2011, the Public Health Minister revealed. The Cameroon government has the responsibility to transport them to District Hospitals from where they will be distributed to the population.

The Minister disclosed that 4,000 distribution localities have identified nationwide to avoid the population from moving to distant places. Over 40,000 staff drawn from civil society organizations and Community-based organizations have been recruited from 177 health districts to carry out the campaign. The staff will sensitise the population, conduct a housing census, distribute the nets and help families set them up.

All families residing in Cameroon, irrespective of nationality have to freely receive the nets. The Public Health Minister said 2.2 people are entitled to a net. From Monday, August 22, 2011, the Minister said, Regional Governors will the launch the campaign that is planned to last for only 30 days. By the end of this September, all Cameroonian families must have got the nets.