Rotarians give nets to needy people

By GABRIEL LAHOC
VULNERABLE people being helped by the Salvation Army in its care centre in Lae will each be given a treated mosquito net to sleep in.
The move is to fight and reduce the infection and spread rate of malaria, a spokesman said.
The measure comes following the donation of two bales containing 200 treated mosquito nets by Rotarians Against Malaria to the Salvation Army’s community services division at its Jim Jacobsen care centre last week.
The division’s clientele covers people living with HIV, sex workers, men who have sex with other men, orphans and survivors of domestic and sexual violence.
Salvation Army HIV/AIDS programme team leader Albert Kaupa said their programme complemented one of the goals of Rotarians to eradicate malaria, which was a major killer in the country and region.
 “The families of the vulnerable people will be included in the distribution programme.”
He thanked Tim Freeman, project manager of Rotarians Against Malaria, and his team for their prompt response.
“We will support and extend the net distribution programme to the neediest and are willing to work with the Rotarians Against Malaria,” Kaupa said.
The Jim Jacobsen centre was formerly a juvenile care centre named after the expatriate businessman who actively supported juveniles.
The centre has since being converted by the Salvos into a general care centre for vulnerable people.