A Demand for Mosquito Nets at the River Crossing

The Bulape Health Zone sells USAID-subsidized insecticide treated mosquito nets. On the plateau around Bulape, the mosquitoes are not so bad.

But in the tropical jungle areas and near the many river basins, mosquito netting is a life saver. I got to see the power of mosquito nets first hand.

First, while we loading the motorbikes in the dugout canoe, one of the guys operating the crossing of at river made his point. He recognized the drivers as health clinic officials. He started remembering them that there was not enough mosquito nets at their health clinics. Without missing a beat, the driver pointed to the doctor. He told the river worker to tell the doctor about their problems with lack of mosquito nets.

Second, upon our arrival at the village of Bokila, the lack of mosquito nets became our personal issue. The village is located on the Sankuru River. The drivers started to warn us that we would have to sleep under nets because the mosquitoes were extremely bad. We were lucky because we staying in the health clinic which had netting for the patient beds.

Throughout the night, everyone heard the sound of mosquitoes buzzing outside the nets over our beds. I do not think I was bitten during the night.

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