Long lasting insecticidal bed nets (LLINs) have been proven to reduce malaria by up to 90% if used properly, and they are more effective if the entire community is using them simultaneously.

Although the Government of Ethiopia distributed more than 50 million LLINs since 2005, the percentage of persons actually sleeping under the nets at night was much lower than the target of 85% utilization. LLINs cost about $6 USD each, and are expected to have a service life of at least 3 years. Among possible reasons for non-use of already distributed LLINs are failure to initially hang up the LLINs, and improper installation that could result in more rapid LLIN wear and tear.

In order to address the many factors that result in low LLIN utilization, the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) in coordination with the Oromia Regional Health Bureau, Bale zonal and district health officials conducted a LLIN hang-up keep-up campaign in April 2010 that installed 35,000 LLINs that had been recently imported and delivered to the Dollo Mena district by UNICEF with PMI support.

The PMI implementing partner, Academy for Educa-tional Development, Communication for Change (AED / C-Change) sent experts to Dollo Mena simultaneously to complement CJTF-HOA personnel to provide important malaria messages including how to use and maintain the nets.

The training of community volunteers and providing these with proper supplies and equipment to assist in installation facilitated an efficient and standardized community-wide approach to LLIN installation combined with IEC/BCC messages for promoting proper LLIN use and maintenance.

The professional collaborations among the Oromia Regional Health Bureau, CJTF-HOA, AED C-Change led to another successful hang-up keep-up project involving installation of 5000 LLINs in Hawi Gudina, West Herarge, Oromia Region in July, 2010 responding to the emergency request from the Oromia Regional Health Bureau for assistance in responding to a malaria out-break.

"I would like to say thank you very much to the Civil Affairs team that is staying here in tents and working on the distribution of the nets, hanging them and knocking on everyone's door with health officials," said Mohammed Musah, vice-chairman of Hayo Oda Kebele. "With this kind of commitment we can make things happen; we can reduce the death rate of people with Malaria."