Jijiga, April 25, 2011 (jijiga) - Ethiopia planned to distribute 39 million mosquito nets to malaria prone regions over the next five years, the Ministry of Health said.
Public Relation Directorate Director with the Ministry, Ahmed Imano said the nets would be distributed among the public in the stated regions in a bid to protecting the public from malaria.
Ahmed was speaking in connection with the World Malaria Day marked in Jijjiga Town of Somali regional state.
He said over the last few years the government managed to distribute over 20 million mosquito nets among the public.
According to him, the mosquito nets distributed among the public greatly helped to bring about decline in malaria cases
In addition the improvement in health service coverage in malaria prone areas, which has now reached 78 percent, also contributed to decline of malaria, Ahmed said.
Over 5,000 people attended the event held at Jijiga Stadium .
The Ministry in collaboration with the Somali Regional State Health Bureau organized the event.
The day will be marked in Benishangul Gumuz regional state next year.