More than 4 million mosquito nets will be distributed for free in Niger to fight against malaria, which killed more than 5,000 people in this poor Sahel country in 2020, the Minister of Health announced.

“For the year 2021, Niger and its partners have raised more than 4 million mosquito nets with pesticides, which will be distributed free of charge between May 24 and 29”, Health Minister, Ilyasou Mannasara indicated on television. public.

It aims to “protect more than 7 million people” (out of an estimated population of over 20 million inhabitants) in four areas, by allowing them to sleep under mosquito nets against malaria: Zinder and Maradi ( South), Tahoua (West) and Agadez (North), he explained.

To avoid congestion, “door to door” delivery work will be carried out by health workers roaming the towns and villages of the targeted areas, due to the Kovid-19 epidemic.

Malaria is the disease that kills the most in Niger where it is the “first cause” of consultation in health centers, according to health officials.

According to official figures, in 2019, malaria killed 3,372 people, including 2,835 children under the age of 5, out of more than 3.3 million cases recorded nationwide.

These figures increased significantly in 2020, with 5,056 deaths out of over 4,064 million malaria cases. The minister justified this outbreak of the disease by a “significant flood” that hit Niger, in favor of the spread of mosquitoes at the core of the disease.

These mosquito net distributions are close to the expected rainy season in late May.

There is no vaccine against malaria yet. For the World Health Organization (WHO), sleeping under mosquito nets is the only effective way of protecting oneself from being bitten by mosquitoes.

However, in Nigerian markets, this type of mosquito net costs up to 1,000 FCFA (1.5 euros), while two-thirds of the population live on less than 500 FCFA (0.75 euros) per day.