The centre for Treatment and Research on Aids, Malaria, Tuberculosis and other epidemics (TRAC Plus) has announced that Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) affects women four times more than men.

This was made public yesterday at the third IRS campaign evaluation meeting held at La Pallise Hotel, Nyandungu in Kigali.

The campaign which was conducted from January 21 to March 14 in the five districts of Nyarugenge, Gasabo, Kicukiro, Nyanza and Kirehe was first adopted two years ago.

Out of 303 cases received over the latest spraying period, 241 were female while 62 were males.

Most victims complain of expected side effects like coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, runny or stuffy nose, chest pain and/or difficulty in breathing.

Despite the report, there has been a substantial reduction of side effects in general. The second campaign affected 461 with more reductions registered in Gasabo and Kicukiro.

According to Eric Mashukano from the Malaria Unit in TRAC Plus, The primary effects of IRS towards curtailing malaria transmission are to reduce the life span of vector mosquitoes.

"This renders them unable to transmit malaria parasites from one person to another and also reduces the density of the vector mosquitoes,” Mashukano said.

The insecticides used for IRS in Rwanda are Lambda Cyahalothrin and Deltamethrin both of which can affect the body in two ways; causing local reaction by point of contact with exposed skin or eye and a systemic reaction after absorption.

They have possible long term affects of disrupting the endocrine system by mimicking the female hormone, estrogen, thus causing excessive estrogen levels in females. 

"In human males, the insecticide creates a feminizing effect which lowers the sperm count. In both, it can lead to the abnormal growth of breast tissue, leading to development of breasts in males and cancerous breast tissue,” Mashukano said.

Prof. Dr. Michael Kramer, the Director General of TRAC plus disclosed that despite the short coming of the malaria prevention procedure used, efforts have been made to minimise the anticipated effects.

"It’s a good method which supplements the already existing methods of sleeping under treated mosquito nets, quick and on time treatment,” Kramer said.

In order to effectively cover the other four targeted districts during the August/September campaign, TRAC plus has carried out training on management and monitoring of lambda cyahalothrin and initiated distribution of drugs for the treatment.

According to TRAC Plus, 916,000 Rwandans died of malaria and related illnesses in 2007 while the number of deaths reduced to 624,000 last year.

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