- In flood-affected areas, malaria has emerged as a serious public health concern.
- India will provide 6.2 million mosquito nets.
- Health authorities said they want to finish the procedure by mid-November.
ISLAMABAD: The health ministry received approval Tuesday to acquire 6.2 million mosquito nets from India, as the nation combat mosquito-borne ailments caused by flooding.
According to health experts, the World Health Organization (WHO) is acquiring nets for Pakistan using funds supplied by the Global Fund.
The officials said that they want to obtain the nets as soon as feasible and aim to do so by the middle of November through the Wagah route.
“Malaria is spreading rapidly in 32 flood-affected areas of the nation, where thousands of youngsters have been afflicted with the mosquito-borne illness,” they warned, adding that treatment is proving tough.
Malaria, they claim, has arisen as a serious public health hazard in flood-affected communities.
According to a source, the health ministry requested authorization last month to import mosquito nets from India.
According to the official, they had requested the Global Fund to arrange for mosquito nets in the 26 most-affected districts of Sindh, Punjab, and Baluchistan, where Plasmodium Falciparum cases were rife, and in response, the Global Fund offered to procure these nets from India if the government of Pakistan permitted procurement from its arch-rival neighbouring state.
“We have written a letter to the Ministry of Commerce requesting authorization to purchase mosquito nets from India.” If allowed, the Global Fund has told us that the requisite quantity of mosquito nets would be supplied within a few days,” one official said when the ministry was contacted.
