Malaria fight taken to mosquito habitats

Rwanda on Thursday launched larviciding and spatial spraying to control mosquitoes from breeding and hence preventing Malaria. Launched in Kamonyi District, the initiative targets mosquitoes outdoor, finding them in their breeding habitats before they attack homes. “We are using less costly home grown solutions to fight malaria, finding mosquitoes in their habitats before they attack us in our homes,” explained the Minister of Health, Diane Gashumba at the launch. A collaboration between the Ministry of Health and the ministries of defence and local government together with Rwanda National Police, the new initiative will see mosquito breeding sites like marshlands and their surroundings sprayed with local products from SOPYRWA and AGROPY industries. The recurrent exercise will be done every after two weeks and routine follow up to see results will be conducted often. The Minister of Defence James Kabarebe affirmed that the initiative came as one of the usual practices his Ministry undertakes to protect the Rwandan population. “Great security is when residents are protected from life threatening diseases like malaria and they can access treatment. With good health, development is assured, children can go to school and adults can work and grow,” said Kabarebe. “This is a great opportunity to us, by implementing all the mechanisms of fighting malaria including spraying, fog smoke, and planting repellant trees, the malaria burden will highly decrease,” said Alice Kayitesi, the Kamonyi District Mayor. The spraying initiative will complement the already existent measures against malaria, these include; mass distribution of long lasting insecticide nets, malaria case management in communities where Community Health Workers are equipped to screen and treat malaria, free malaria treatment for Rwandans in Ubudehe 1 and 2 social clusters, Indoor Residual Spraying in malaria prone districts among other strategies. According to the health ministry, malaria cases increased because mosquitoes changed their behavior and resorted to biting from outdoors, which is why the authorities decided to find them in their breeding grounds. While malaria cases increased, severe malaria and death decreased immensely in Rwanda. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Malaria fight taken to mosquito habitats