Insecticide treated bed nets power malaria control in Ghana

Akosua, a pregnant 40-year-old mother, recalls an afternoon her son was running a very high temperature and then fell unconscious. She had already lost two of her four children in this way and was terrified. In tears, she rushed Kobla to their community health officer for treatment.

After treating Kobla with effective drugs and realizing he was out of danger, the nurse introduced Akosua to the use of insecticide treated bed nets to prevent malaria. With this education, Akosua promised the nurse she would buy and use the treated bed nets to prevent herself, Kobla and her newborn from falling sick as a result of mosquito bites.

In the past, many households like Akosua's did not know that insecticide treated bed nets could save the lives of mothers and young children. Even those who knew this had no access or could not afford one at a cost of $5.50. To help reduce malaria sickness and deaths in mothers and children, USAID has worked with the Government of Ghana and other partners to remove taxes and tariffs on imported bed nets and subsidize their purchase to protect vulnerable groups, while making them more available in all parts of the country. USAID is also using retail outlets to make the bed nets available in rural communities.

In 2007 USAID purchased and distributed over 60,000 nets through a subsidized voucher scheme. Over 150,000 nets were retreated. USAID also provided technical assistance, advertising and policy support for private sector sales of 619,000 nets. Mainly as a result of USAID efforts, an estimated one million people were protected by treated bednets. A Global Fund grant to fight malaria in Ghana contributed significant additional resources to increase use of these nets. Nationwide, household ownership of these nets increased from 3% in 2003 to 19 percent in 2006, and children under five who slept under a treated net increased from 4 percent to 22 percent.

Now, Akosua, Kobla and the newborn Sena are free from malaria, and other users of treated bed nets celebrate their healthy children. "With the treated bednet, my family sleeps soundly and dreams of a brighter future."