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Major Anti-Malaria Drive Started in Three Districts
- Details
- Published on Tuesday, 03 July 2007 03:47
The project, funded by the Finnish Government, aims at teaching local people new ways of controlling mosquitos.
According Dr Annalee Mengech of the International Centre for Insect Physiology and Ecology, the new approach will include eradicating the mosquito larvae using plant-based products that are harmless to people and animals, and environmental management in mosquito breeding sites.
It will also involve malaria control with new pesticides, use of baits and insect traps as well as educating local people to become involved in the fight against the disease.
The project will be spearheaded by Icipe, the Ministry of Health, the Kenya Medical Research Institute and other non-governmental organisations.
Dr Mengech said brick making - an important cash-generating activity in Kisii - was the main source of malaria breeding areas because of its many pits that collect and hold water.
"Our approach is to use natural products that are not poisonous to humans and other animals, such
She said the Neem tree and pesticides derived from bacteria would be used. Large mosquitoes will also be used to check the smaller ones.
Dr Mengech said the teams would also use natural enemies of mosquitoes, such as tilapia.
The researchers will also look for attractants (from natural sources) that can lure the insects into traps where they can be killed or removed physically from the environment, Dr Mengech added.
