THE Zambia Red Cross Society HIV/AIDS Integrated Home Based Care recently distributed 3,000 treated mosquito nets to vulnerable people in eight districts throughout the country.

Zambia Red Cross HIV/AIDS Integrated Home Based Care Project has 4,269 registered clients of which the majority of them are people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), elderly and incapacitated or disabled and 1,000 Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC).

"The distribution of the treated nets was tailored to target PLWHA and Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) in the eight project areas as potential beneficiaries." Says Mr. Charles Mushitu, the Zambia Red Cross Society Secretary General.

"The distribution of the nets was made possible to the HIV/AIDS project by the World Swim For Malaria Foundation through the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) who have recently partnered for the fight against Malaria" Added Mr. Mushitu.

The districts that benefited are Mansa, Sesheke, Mongu, Livingstone, Mporokoso, Chipata, Sinazongwe and Kapiri Mposhi districts where the National Society is implementing HIV/AIDS Integrated Home Care projects.

Two thousand five hundred and fifteen (2,515) registered clients and another 485 OVC benefited from the distribution of nets bringing to the total of number of beneficiaries to 3,000.

"Mansa has 320 client beneficiaries and 80 OVC, Sesheke 270 client beneficiaries and 52 OVC, Mongu 120 client beneficiaries and 39 OVC, Livingstone 680 client beneficiaries and 120 OVC, Mporokoso 210 client beneficiaries and 40 OVC, Chipata 50 client beneficiaries and 19 OVC, Sinazongwe 440 client beneficiaries and 60 OVC, and Kapiri Mposhi 425 client beneficiaries and 75 OVC." Says Astridah Mwenya, the OVC Officer.

"The nets we are receiving today will go a long way to reduce the chances of us people living with HIV and AIDS have in suffering from Malaria and we would like to thank you Red Cross for your continued support and assistance we continue receiving." Says Mr. Akapelwa Nyambe one of the HBC clients in Sesheke

"Project Officers and Care Facilitator in conjunction with the District Health Management Team conducted pre distribution community health education and sensitisation on prevention, control and treatment of malaria, proper methods of use and re-treatment of the nets." Says Ms.Astridah Mwenya the OVC Officer.

"Apart from that, the community members were sensitised through meetings, threatre or drama performances and door to door campaigns on the interconnection between HIV/AIDS and malaria." Added Astridah.

It is foreseen that pre-distribution, distribution, and post distribution are intervention strategies that will, in short and long terms, result in greater knowledge of malaria and its preventive measures.

Ends.

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