IRS Campaign launched in NBR

The Ministry of Health and its partners at the weekend launched the National Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) Campaign in North Bank Region as part of efforts at eradicating malaria in the country.

Officially launching the IRS at the metropolitan town of Farafenni, the permanent secretary at the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Sanna Dahaba, said the 2011 national IRS campaign must seriously reflect on the progress made in this area and renew their collective effort towards eventually eliminating malaria in the country.

He thanked President Jammeh for providing the chemical called DDT insecticide for the IRS campaign since 2008 as his personal contribution to the malaria campaign.

“The DDT insecticide was provided by the President after the launching of “Operation Eradicate Malaria in 2008,” he added.

He said with the support from the government and the Ministry of Health through the National Malaria Control Programme they were able to conduct several rounds of IRS campaigns across the country using the DDT provided by President Jammeh.

PS Dahaba, who read a statement from the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, said: “The IRS is very effective in reducing mosquito population and their lifespan.

He further told the gathering characterized by cultural display: “Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) is part of the integrated vector management strategy which is used in combination which belongs to insecticide treated nets.

“The application of cost-effective multiple interventions in The Gambia has culminated in registering a lot of achievements in preventing and controlling malaria in the country.”

Ma Janko Sa Musa, deputy Governor of LRR, commended the commitment of the government to eradicating malaria in the country.

He also praised the president for his personal contribution to fight against malaria in the country.

Mustapha Dibba, who deputised for NBR governor, describes malaria as a life threatening disease and a silent killer.

“Admission due to malaria has dropped by 74 per cent and malaria attributable deaths have also reduced by 90 per cent.”

He said malaria remains to be a public heath challenge in the Gambia and the government is committed to its prevention and control.

Adama Demba, chief nursing officer, said the launching of the national IRS campaign heralds The Gambia’s renewed effort to make progress towards preventing and controlling malaria so that it ceases to be a major public health problem in the country.

Reducing the impact of malaria is key to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, she said.