1,700 mosquito nets stolen

About One Thousand and Seven Hundred (1,700) insecticide treated mosquito nets (ITNs) have been stolen in Chienge District. The over 100 bales of mosquito nets that were meant for the integrated Reproductive Health Programme went missing between late last year and early 2015. ZANIS Reports that the theft came to light during a Chienge District Development Cordinating Committee (DDCC) Meeting held last Friday in the Council Chambers. Confirming the development, both the acting Public Health Officer Given Mweene and Planner at the District Community Medical Office Lemmy Situnyama said the matter had since been reported to Chienge Police Station. Mr. Situnyama said the stolen ITNs were stored in different health facilities across the district. And Chienge Police Station Officer-in-Charge Beauty Mwape confirmed receiving the report of the stolen mosquito nets. She said Investigations by her office in the matter have reached an advanced stage adding that the culprits would soon be brought to book. Mrs. Mwape however complained that government institutions in Chienge District have a habit of delaying in reporting theft cases, a situation which she said made investigations very difficult. The Officer-in-Charge urged Government Institutions to report such mattes immediately they occurred to the Police to make their work of investigating such cases easier. The mosquito nets are usually turned into fishing nets and used on Lake Mweru to catch Chisense, a very small fish that is part of the sardine species. However, using the mosquito net is a destructive method of fishing because it hauls out everything in the Lake which includes fingerlings and other fish species, as well as eggs. The effect of the Insecticide on the mosquito nets is also something to worry about as it pollutes Lake Mweru and may causes diseases to people who consume Chisense.