Anti-mosquito spraying receives mixed reactions

Late last year, the country embarked on a spirited anti-mosquito spray in homes with a view of eradicating malaria, from the country. They have been carrying out what has been termed as Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS). For most of Africa south of the Sahara, malaria is the leading cause of death followed by Aids. And it is common knowledge that it is spread by mosquitoes. This made it necessary for many countries, especially in Africa to adopt measures that would go a long way in eradicating the cause of malaria. It is being carried out by RTI international, a non profit international organization. RIT launched its anti malaria spraying program in August 2007 in Rwanda. The first phase of the spraying was carried out between August 13 and October 14 through out the country. According to Nathan Mugume, the head of communications in the ministry of health, the campaign has already registered a positive out come. Asked whether this campaign has been effective, he responded thus; “of course there is a positive effect, without going into the details saying that it requires a technical person to talk about it. Clare Muhoza, 47, a mother of four says that the insecticide though inconveniencing to her and the family members when it was first sprayed in her house, it at the time helped to reduce on the incidence of mosquitoes in her house. “Yes it’s helpful and combined with use of mosquito nets and done on a regular basis, I think it will help to solve this problem of malaria,” Muhoza says. Despite this, she says that she does not take chances with malaria. “I ensure that any suspected case of malaria in my household is promptly diagnosed and treated”. In effect, she believes that no single intervention is enough for malaria eradication. Consequently she appears to be willing to take on a multi-pronged approach to the issue of malaria in her home. According to information from RTI –Rwanda office, it is part of the President malaria initiative (PMI). This is an initiative that was launched in June 2005 by US President Bush to eradicate malaria from 15 most affected countries in Sub-Sahara Africa. At the time, a five year, $1.2 billion program was launched. At the same time PMI challenges the private sector to join the US government in combating malaria in the 15 hardest hit countries in Africa. Information from the White House, suggests that under this program, PMI aims at cutting malaria’s mortality rate by 50 percent in these target countries. Muhoza’s approach to dealing with malaria has a confluence with PMI. PMI in its anti malaria strategy, adopts a multi pronged approach. Speaking at a fighting against malaria dinner in New York in September 2005, American first lady Mrs. Laura Bush revealed the nature of the fight against malaria in Africa. She explained; “The money will pay for insecticide-treated nets, it will allow for indoor spraying against mosquitoes, and it will provide effective new combination drugs to treat malaria”. To this effect, it appears the Indoor Residual Spraying had the blessing of the top level leadership in the white house in the fight against malaria which is explained as preventable dieses. Potential negative impactAlthough the IRS has high level was adopted and has been said to have had a positive impact among other anti-malaria interventions, it is not without potentially negative impacts. These range from being potentially harmful to pregnant mothers. Thus women are screened for pregnancy when there is recruitment for people to carry out the spraying. Vannesa Ruhirwa of Kabeza, says that she was advised not to apply to participate in this program, since it was potentially harmful to her since she was pregnant at the time. Other potentially harmful effects like community exposure are dealt with through sensitization of the population about how to avoid getting exposed. During spraying, all households are required to remove such items as cooking utensils so that they can allow the insecticide to subside after the spraying. At the RTI offices in Remera, an advisory of the potentially negative effects and how to combat them is displayed on the notice board. This in effect shows that the on the ground implementers of the program are aware of this and have taken measures to combat the negative effects. Ends