By Chinonso Alozie

Owerri—Over three million Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets, LLIN, will be distributed for free across the 27 local government areas of Imo State.

Mrs. Nneka Ndubuisi of the Federal Ministry of Health disclosed this, yesterday, in Owerri.

She said children under five years and pregnant women are mostly affected in Nigeria by malaria, noting that “according to the World Health Organisation, WHO, the best opportunity for scaling up malaria prevention is the use of LLIN.

“In Imo State, a total of 3,383,887 nets will be distributed across the state from November 8 to 12. One net is for two persons and a maximum of four nets will be given to a household. Malaria is the most common preventable public health problem in Nigeria.

“Yet it takes a lethal toll of 95 percent of Nigerians, especially children under five years of age and pregnant women.

“It is the commonest cause of absenteeism from schools, offices, farms, market, resulting in  lower productivity.”