adminPost Correspondent
SPRAYING of the new mosquito insecticide pirimiphos-methyl in malaria- prone districts in Manicaland has started, the Manicaland Provincial Medical Director, Dr Patron Mafaune, revealed last week Wednesday. Dr Mafaune said the new mosquito insecticide is replacing the old pyrethroids insecticide which was being resisted by a new breed of mosquito — anopheles fenestus — discovered early this year, which is suspected to have originated from Mozambique.
The anopheles fenestus breed was discovered after research was conducted in Mutasa and Burma Valley in a bid to combat the increase in malaria cases in the province. The PMD said training of health workers about the new insecticide by the Ministry of Health and Child Care and its partners started on November 1, while the spraying exercise is already underway. The targeted malaria-prone districts in Manicaland are Mutasa, Makoni, Chipinge, Nyanga, Mutare and Chimanimani.
“Together with the National Malaria Control Programme we have launched the new insecticide and spraying equipment to kill the new mosquito breed.
“We are hoping to finish the spraying exercise in all the targeted districts by mid-December.
“We urge people living in the targeted districts to comply with the demands by our health workers during the spraying exercise to make the process smooth and easy,” said Dr Mafaune.
Dr Mafaune added that the Ministry’s National Malaria Control Programme and the USAID’s Malaria Initiative also launched the malaria indoor residual spraying season in Manicaland last week to combat malaria in the prone areas as the rainy season draws near.
The programme saw about $4 million being invested by the ministry’s partners for Manicaland alone.
According to the 2014 report by the Ministry of Health and Child Care since the beginning of the year, 667 succumbed to malaria and most of the deaths were reported in Manicaland.
To date, close to 500 000 cases of malaria have been reported across the country with the majority coming from Manicaland and Mashonaland Central respectively.
Online Reporter