President warns against the misuse of mosquito treated nets

President Yoweri Museveni has launched the final exercise of the distribution of insecticide treated mosquito nets with a strong warning that anybody who will be found misusing the nets for either catching white ants or fish will be arrested and sent to jail.
“We have unanimously agreed here that anybody that will be caught misusing treated mosquito nets meant for public health purposes, will be jailed,” he warned amid cheers from the gathering.
The President was this morning concluding the exercise of the Universal Distribution of Free Mosquito treated nets in Uganda to the last 2 districts of Wakiso and Kampala, at Mulago play grounds.
The largest campaign of the distribution of long lasting insecticide treated nets in the world was launched by President Museveni in May 2013 in Soroti district with the Police and the Army helping in the successful distribution of the nets.
President Museveni also urged all Ugandans to cooperate in eradicating the malaria scourge in the country. He pointed out that the 3 elements of containing the pandemic is by applying the prevention and better than cure method of using treated nets, indoor residual spraying and to get treatment once one is infected.
“I last suffered from malaria in 1984 during the last days of the bush war. I always use the prevention is better that cure method by protecting myself from mosquito bites. The nets protect you from mosquito bites and also kill them. Always treat yourself to save life and not to allow your body to be a reservoir for malaria parasites,” he counseled.
President Museveni thanked development partners for their support in the fight against malaria. He also commended the UPDF and the Police for helping in the task of the distribution of the nets.
The Minister of Health, Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, said Uganda aspires to eradicate malaria by 2020. He urged all Ugandans to consistently sleep under the treated nets to avert cases of malaria.
The British High Commissioner to Uganda, Ms. Alison Blackburne, announced that her government is to provide 34 million British Pounds for the continuation of the anti-malaria programmes in Uganda.
The United States Ambassador to Uganda, Mr. Scott Delisi, was pleased to note that the exercise has so far yielded fruits as there is a significant decline of malaria since the exercise kicked off last year 2013.
Mr. Linden Morrison from the Global Fund applauded the leadership of President Museveni, the Government of Uganda and Development Partners for their support in the fight to eradicate malaria in Uganda.
The USA Presidential Malaria Initiative Coordinator, Dr. Bernard Nahlen, was optimistic that with such interventions, he sees Uganda getting rid of Malaria.
Other speakers at the function included the Director of Health Services, Dr. Aceng Jane Ruth, the Chairman of Malaria Consortium, Dr. Julian Lob-Levyt, the World Vision Director, Mr. Gilbert Kamanga, who praised the exercise of the distribution of treated nets and hoped that the intervention along with others, will see Uganda free of malaria.