Almost 66 per cent of households in Cameroon possess Long-lasting Mosquito Bednets.

The results of the post campaign survey on the use of Long Lasting Impregnated Mosquito Bed Nets (LLIN) in Cameroon in 2011 were presented in Yaounde yesterday September 18, 2013. According to data from the National Institute of Statistics in Yaounde, almost 66 per cent of households possess at least one LLIN. In 2011 this proportion was 33 per cent. The proportion according to the place of residence is 59 per cent in urban areas against 75 per cent in the rural area.

Speaking at the occasion, the Minister of Public Health, André Mama Fouda said the 2011 campaign for the distribution of LLIN had a great impact following an increase in the use of mosquito bed nets in the different regions of the country. He called on families to use mosquito bed nets to protect themselves against mosquitoes especially children below five years and pregnant women. He also called on mothers to take their children who are suffering from malaria to the hospital because malaria treatment for babies below five is free.

The report further reveals that 85 per cent of households in possession of LLIN acquired it during distribution in 2011 campaign. The proportion is 91 per cent for the poorest and 79 per cent for the wealthiest who surely dispose other ways to protect themselves. The report also shows that only 72 percent of households in possession of Impregnated Treated Nets (ITN) use them effectively, just 50 per cent of children below five years are sleeping under an ITN and only 41 per cent of pregnant women, a target of the campaign are sleeping under an ITN.  The report thus stressed the need to intensify the campaign to raise coverage of ITNs and raise awareness among households using them.

André Mama Fouda recalled that the Ministry of Public Health received a team from the Global Fund recently. He said the Global Fund have decided to give a grant to Cameroon to provide ten million Long Lasting Impregnated Mosquito Bed Nets for the next campaign in 2015.