Katakwi homes sprayed with Icon
Nov 23, 2008
THE first phase of a multi-pronged approach in malaria control in Africa has come to an end in Katakwi district.
By Joseph Kariuki
THE first phase of a multi-pronged approach in malaria control in Africa has come to an end in Katakwi district.
The month-long campaign dubbed ‘Move on Malaria’ comprised indoor residual spraying (IRS) of 55,000 homes using Icon 10 SC, rapid testing and mass administration of anti-malarial drugs to 170,000 people in the district.
Anthony Esenu, the Pilgrim deputy executive director, said: “We are the first country to push the World Health Organisation to allow us to use the strategy after it was raised in the East Africa Rollback Malaria Network meeting in Lusaka, Zambia in August.â€
He added: “The success of this campaign means Uganda will be a model for other African countries in the fight against malaria.â€
The campaign that cost $1.8m, run from October 14 to November 20 and was carried out by Pilgrim, an NGO operating in eastern Uganda in collaboration with the health ministry.
Katakwi was chosen due to its high malaria prevalence rate.
Dr. Andrew Katawera, a senior medical officer in the district, said: “Sixty-three percent of out-patient attendants have malaria and 90% of the beds in the children’s wards are occupied by malaria patients.â€
Tito Okwalinga, the Pilgrim programme manager, said a survey was carried out to establish the type of malaria-causing mosquitoes and their biting peak. “Generally, mosquitoes bite between 10:00pm to 11:00pm, but in Katakwi, they bite between 4:00am to 5:00am,†he said.
Okwalinga said they are using Icon because of the court injunction on the use of DDT.
The health ministry has also embarked on a month-long evaluation programme in the district, said James Kaweesa, a vector control officer.
A repeated exercise will be carried out every nine months for the next three years.
The seven districts of Teso will be the next beneficiaries of the programme.
THE first phase of a multi-pronged approach in malaria control in Africa has come to an end in Katakwi district.
The month-long campaign dubbed ‘Move on Malaria’ comprised indoor residual spraying (IRS) of 55,000 homes using Icon 10 SC, rapid testing and mass administration of anti-malarial drugs to 170,000 people in the district.
Anthony Esenu, the Pilgrim deputy executive director, said: “We are the first country to push the World Health Organisation to allow us to use the strategy after it was raised in the East Africa Rollback Malaria Network meeting in Lusaka, Zambia in August.â€
He added: “The success of this campaign means Uganda will be a model for other African countries in the fight against malaria.â€
The campaign that cost $1.8m, run from October 14 to November 20 and was carried out by Pilgrim, an NGO operating in eastern Uganda in collaboration with the health ministry.
Katakwi was chosen due to its high malaria prevalence rate.
Dr. Andrew Katawera, a senior medical officer in the district, said: “Sixty-three percent of out-patient attendants have malaria and 90% of the beds in the children’s wards are occupied by malaria patients.â€
Tito Okwalinga, the Pilgrim programme manager, said a survey was carried out to establish the type of malaria-causing mosquitoes and their biting peak. “Generally, mosquitoes bite between 10:00pm to 11:00pm, but in Katakwi, they bite between 4:00am to 5:00am,†he said.
Okwalinga said they are using Icon because of the court injunction on the use of DDT.
The health ministry has also embarked on a month-long evaluation programme in the district, said James Kaweesa, a vector control officer.
A repeated exercise will be carried out every nine months for the next three years.
The seven districts of Teso will be the next beneficiaries of the programme.