Niamey (AFP)

More than 4 million mosquito nets will be distributed free of charge in Niger to fight against malaria which in 2020 killed more than 5,000 people, mostly children, in this poor Sahel country, announced the Minister of Health.

"For the year 2021, Niger and its partners have mobilized more than four million mosquito nets impregnated with insecticides which will be distributed free of charge between 24 and 29 May", indicated the Minister of Health, Illiassou Maïnassara on television. public.

The objective is to "protect more than 7 million people" (out of a population estimated at more than 20 million inhabitants), against malaria "by allowing them to sleep under mosquito nets", in the four regions: Zinder and Maradi (south), Tahoua (west) and Agadez (north), he explained.

To avoid crowds, "due to the Covid-19 pandemic, distribution operations will be carried out" door to door "by health workers who will roam the towns and villages of the targeted regions.

Malaria is the disease that kills the most in Niger where it is "the first cause" of consultations in health centers, according to health authorities.

In 2019, malaria killed 3,372 people, including 2,835 children under the age of 5, out of more than 3.3 million cases reported across the country, according to official figures.

These figures increased markedly in 2020, with 5,056 deaths out of more than 4,064 million reported malaria cases.

The minister justified this outbreak of the disease by the "important floods" which hit Niger, favoring the spread of mosquitoes at the origin of the disease.

These mosquito net distributions take place at the approach of the rainy season expected at the end of May.

There is no vaccine against malaria yet.

For the World Health Organization (WHO), sleeping under a mosquito net is the only effective way to protect yourself against getting bitten by mosquitoes.

However, in Nigerien markets, a mosquito net of this type costs up to 1,000 FCFA (1.5 euros), while two-thirds of the population live on less than 500 FCFA (0.75 euros) per day.

© 2021 AFP