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The National Malaria Control Centre (NMCC) is implementing five insecticide treated net (ITN) programmes as well encouraging and sponsoring re-treatment of ITNs.  The programmes are intended to meet all socio-economic classes, communities, and education programmes.  They include: 

• Voucher Program

The voucher program is implemented by NetMark and ITNs are procured and distributed by Cropserve, EcoMed and Melcome.  With the voucher program, pregnant women attending antenatal clinics will receive a stamp on their antenatal cards or coupon declaring that they are eligible to receive a discounted net from a designated retailer.  Currently, the discounted rate is K13, 000 with UNICEF paying the K12, 000 subsidy for each ITN.

• MIP (Malaria in Pregnancy) Subsidy Program

SFH (Society for Family Health), the Zambian affiliate of the global social marketing organization, Population Services International, implements a nationwide project to distribute long lasting ITNs under the brand name "Mama Safenite" in an effort to combat malaria. The subsidy program for malaria in pregnancy was launched in 2001 and operates in six provinces, including Eastern, Luapula, Northern, Northwestern, Southern and Western Province. The program is managed by District Health Management Teams (DHMTs) through health centers thereby making the nets easily accessible to Zambia's most vulnerable group, pregnant women and children under five. To date, SFH has distributed over 250,000 ITNs in Zambia.

NMCC Achievement 2006 (MIP)

-Rolled out programme to Central, Copperbelt and Lusaka Provinces and signed operating agreements

-Review meetings held for remaining 6 provinces

-Distributed 243,467 ITNs to pregnant women and children under 5

-Scaled up MIP programme into 10 former voucher programme Districts

NMCC ITNs Mass distribution-2006

–          526,500 ITNs to Western and Northwestern Provinces

–          377,000 delivered to Luapula Province

–          138,000 delivered through CHAZ

–          District Assessments

39% coverage achieved for ITNs (against target of 60%)

• Equity Program

NMCC is working with UNICEF to ensure that the most impoverished receive ITNs free of charge.  Those eligible include orphans, refugees, and individuals who are identified as the most vulnerable.  The Equity Program is run through the Zambia Malaria Foundation.

• Health Facility and Boarding School Program

The health facility and boarding school programs are being implemented by MOH/NMCC and MOE.  All hospitals, health centers, and boarding schools will receive ITNs for each bed.

If you have any questions about the ITN programs or if your agency is interested in becoming active in the procurement and distribution of ITNs please contact Mr. Boniface Chiluba, ITN Programme Manager (chiluba@nmcc.org.zm) or Ms. Cecelia Katebe, ITN Specialist (cnkatebe@nmcc.org.zm) both at NMCC 260-1-282455. 

For more info on vector control click here.

To find out who the commercial providers of ITNs are click here.

Cost Effectiveness of ITN programmes
Malaria Journal: The costs and effects of a nationwide insecticide-treated net programme: the case of Malawi
       Warren Stevens, Virginia Wiseman, Juan Ortiz and Desmond Chavasse