Flood-Hit Pakistan Approves Purchase Of Over 6 Million Mosquito Nets From India: Report

Malaria, a mosquito-borne disease, is currently the biggest problem facing Pakistanis.

A displaced flood-affected girl sleeps under a mosquito net alongside flood waters at Dera Allah Yar in Jaffarabad district of Balochistan province (Source: File photo/AFP)

New Delhi: Amid the deepening economic crisis in the neighboring country, Pakistan's health ministry approved the purchase of over 6 million mosquito nets from India on Tuesday, as reported by the news agency PTI.

Malaria, a mosquito-borne disease, is currently the biggest problem facing Pakistanis. To prevent this, Pakistan is going to buy about 62 lakh mosquito nets from India. 

According to the Pakistani news website Geo.tv report, the World Health Organisation (WHO) is using financial resources provided by the Global Fund to collect mosquito nets for Pakistan.

“Malaria is spreading at a rapid pace in 32 flood-affected districts of the country where thousands of children are infected with the mosquito-borne disease,” officials said as quoted by PTI.

According to the reports, last month Pakistan's Health Ministry sought permission from India to buy mosquito nets. The Pak official claimed that he had requested the Global Fund to provide mosquito nets for the 26 most affected districts of Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan. Cases of Plasmodium falciparum (the deadliest species of Plasmodium that causes malaria in humans) were high in these areas. In response, the Global Fund offered to buy these mosquito nets from India, if the Pakistani government allows it.

“We have written a letter to the Ministry of Commerce to grant the permission for procurement of mosquito nets from India. If allowed, the Global Fund has assured us of arranging the required number of mosquito nets within a few days,” an NHS official added as reported by PTI.

Earlier, the United Nations and Pakistan jointly launched a fresh flash appeal seeking more than USD 800 million for the rehabilitation of millions of Pakistanis affected by the devastating floods that have so far claimed the lives of over 1,700 people, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said.

Under the new appeal by the UN launched during a ceremony in Geneva on Monday, the global body revised up its humanitarian appeal for Pakistan five-fold to USD 816 million from USD 160 million as it seeks to control a surge in water-borne diseases reported from various parts of the country still reeling under the floods.

Speaking at the ceremony, Minister for Climate Change Sherry Rehman stressed the need for urgent medical assistance and timely efforts to save flood victims of Pakistan from the effects of cold weather soon approaching, the foreign ministry said.

(With PTI Inputs)