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Medics raise alarm as residents use mosquito nets to preserve dead bodies
A VHTs member showcase on how to go about with mosquito net during community sensitization on its usage on March 17, 2025. Photo | Patrick Okaba.
What you need to know:
- According to the Acting District Health Officer, Dr.Justin Okwairwoth, the practice has promoted the misuse of mosquito nets, making it harder to fight malaria in the communities.
Medics in Nebbi District have raised concerns over the misuse of mosquito nets, following reports that community members are using them to preserve dead bodies.
According to the Acting District Health Officer, Dr.Justin Okwairwoth, the practice has promoted the misuse of mosquito nets, making it harder to fight malaria in the communities.
"We have been getting reports about communities using mosquito nets to preserve dead bodies from our Village Health Teams (VHTs), and our teams have verified and found it to be a reality on the ground," Dr. Okwairwoth said.
He explained that instead of sleeping under mosquito nets, some communities are using them for preserving dead bodies, shielding seedlings, and catching white ants.
According to Dr. Okwairwoth, the communities believe that the chemicals applied on the mosquito nets can preserve the body better than taking it to the hospital's mortuary for treatment.
Allan Okello, a resident of Nebbi Sub County, confirmed the practice, stating that people fear taking their loved ones to the mortuary due to the cost involved.
"When one is confirmed dead and the body is taken to the hospital mortuary, the deceased's relatives are charged not less than Shs150,000, which is sometimes very difficult to get," Okello said.
Okello added that in some places, people have resorted to connecting solar panels to the deceased's body as another way of preserving it.
"People are coming up with discoveries in the communities to avoid cost and inaccessibility of the road network to transport the body of the dead to the mortuary for treatment," he said.
Silver Kasozi, the Communication Officer at the Ministry of Health, emphasized the need for communities to be sensitized on the proper use of mosquito nets.
"Since the government is spending a lot of money fighting malaria countrywide, the communities must be sensitized on the proper use of mosquito nets, not using them to preserve dead bodies," Kasozi said.
Kasozi urged cultural chiefs to get involved in monitoring government programs and work as a team to fight the misuse of mosquito nets in the communities and curb malaria infection rates.
