JUBA, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) on Monday handed over the first consignment of a total of 9.5 million long-lasting insecticidal mosquito nets to support South Sudan's upcoming malaria prevention campaign.
Ismail Kamil, deputy country representative for UNICEF in South Sudan, said the nets were donated by the Against Malaria Foundation, a charity that saves lives by distributing insecticide-treated mosquito nets in malaria-prone regions, and shipped through UNICEF's Supply Division and its South Sudan Office, with support from development partners.
"As of today, we have received 763,000 nets transported in 20 containers, which have already arrived in Juba. The remaining consignments are currently in transit and will arrive in phases to ensure smooth and uninterrupted campaign preparations," Kamil said.
He added that the mass distribution campaign seeks to ensure that every household in South Sudan has access to mosquito nets, in line with the national standard of one net for every 1.5 people.
"The campaign aims to significantly reduce malaria transmission, illness, and deaths, particularly among children under five and pregnant women, who remain most at risk," Kamil said.
Distribution will be conducted through a digitized door-to-door mass campaign, which UNICEF said will allow accurate household registration, real-time tracking of nets, improved accountability, and stronger data for evidence-based decision-making.
The campaign is scheduled to take place ahead of the rainy season, when malaria transmission typically peaks. State and county health authorities, working closely with six implementing partners, will oversee last-mile delivery, including to hard-to-reach and underserved communities.
Kennedy Gaaniko, undersecretary at South Sudan's Ministry of Health, described the donation as a milestone in the fight against malaria, noting that the disease remains the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in the country, particularly among women and children under five.
Gaaniko said the nets will be distributed to communities nationwide, stressing that the effort requires collective responsibility.
According to the South Sudanese Ministry of Health, malaria is one of the leading causes of death in the country, with an estimated 18 fatalities occurring daily.
