Ten sub-counties in Kabale are to undergo the third round of indoor residual spraying by the Ministry of Health to rid them of malaria-transmitting mosquitoes.
John Bosco Agaba, southwestern coordinator of Research Triangle Institute, said the malaria-endemic sub-counties of Kamuganguzi, Buhara, Bubare, Maziba, Rubaya, Butanda, Rwamucucu, Kashambya, Kyanamira and Bukinda will be targeted in the new program. Research Triangle Institute was contracted by government to carry out the indoor spraying with the human friendly ICON insecticide.
Agaba told Kabale district officials yesterday that since the second round of indoor spraying was carried out two years ago, the malaria cases in the ten sub-counties had resurged. He said the spraying will focus on schools, government institutions, churches, social halls and homes. All residences and schools in Kabale Municipality will also be sprayed in the exercise.
James Turyaimuka, the Kabale District Vector Control Officer, said that on the whole the cases of malaria in Kabale have reduced considerably since the ICON spraying program commenced. He said the new exercise will start on June 16th and will be conducted by trained health workers.
Residents of Kitgum Town Council are crying foul over a decision by Research Triangle Institute to omit them from an ongoing malaria control program.
The ICON internal residual spray targets the malaria-transmitting anopheles mosquito. It is an alternative to the controversial DDT and has a shorter lifespan of only four to six months. It is being Kabale, Kanungu, Amuru and Kitgum districts and is funded by the U.S. President's Malaria Initiative.
