Home

Anti-malaria campaign launched

  • Print
Some 690,000 homes are set to be sprayed with anti-mosquito chemicals in the war against malaria. The annual in-door spraying, which started yesterday, will cover 15 districts in the country.

The head of the malaria control unit in the Ministry of Health, Dr Willis Akhwale, said the spraying would go on for 54 days. Dr Akhwale said 21.56 tonnes of the spraying chemical would be used.He cited the following as malaria- prone districts: West Pokot, Trans Nzoia, Lugari, Uasin Gishu, Nandi North, Nandi South, Kericho, Nyamira, Buret and Gucha.

Vector control

Others are Kisii Central, Trans Mara, Narok, Bomet, Mount Elgon and Rachuonyo. Dr Akhwale added: “The areas considered in this campaign will include mother districts which participated in the last campaign and the mother districts are required to liaise with new districts to ensure their areas are covered during the exercise.”

In-door residual spraying is considered an effective vector control method. It destroys mosquitoes in a house, thus protecting the occupants for six months after spraying.  Dr Akhwale advised communities to have their houses sprayed every six months. He said DDT was not used in the campaign but biodegradable chemicals are used as they are safe for human beings and the environment.