MALARIA ACCOUNTS
FOR 30% OF CHILDHOOD
AND 11% OF MATERNAL MORTALITY
IN NIGERIA ANNUALLY.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
W.A (Nigeria) Limited
MALARIA ACCOUNTS FOR ABOUT
63% OF ALL HOSPITAL ATTENDANCE
IN NIGERIA AND THERE ARE ABOUT
500 MILLION CASES EACH YEAR
WORLDWIDE, OF WHICH AFRICA
ACCOUNTS FOR 90%.
Malaria is an infectious disease caused by the parasite Plasmodium. In Nigeria about 98% of the malaria cases are caused by this parasite. It is estimated that Nigeria looses about 132 billion Naira annually to malaria due to absenteeism from work, school and farm as well as during time of relations’ deaths. Malaria has severe negative effects on maternal health, as it causes maternal anemia, miscarriage and low birth weight. Malaria accounts for 30% of childhood and 11% of maternal mortality in Nigeria annually.
Modes of Transmission
The principal mode of spread of malaria is from bites from infected female anopheles mosquitoes. The bites of this mosquito are usually at night time. Mosquito species called Anopheles gambiae is the main vector of malaria in Nigeria, but other speciessuch as A. funestus, A. arabiensis and A. melas are also encountered. Other uncommon modes of transmission are from blood transfusion and mother to baby transmission. Malaria is characterized by a stable and perennial transmission in all parts of Nigeria but transmission is higher in the wet season than in the dry season.
Roll Back Malaria -
(RBM) Program in Nigeria
Since the year 2000 the Roll Back Malaria (RBM) program, which is a global initiative for the effective control of malaria, has attracted the attention and commitment of many governments, donor agencies and development partners resulting in further interest and participation by the private sector, all with the goal of reducing mortality and morbidity caused by malaria especially in developing countries. The highest goal of this initiative was reached during the African Summit on Roll Back Malaria held in Abuja, Nigeria, on April 25, 2000 which led to the Abuja Declaration, Plan of Action and Framework for Monitoring.
CAUSED BY MALARIA IN NIGERIA
Program Implementation
From this point many African countries including Nigeria, who endorsed this plan have implemented the program with the assistance of many multilateral and bilateral agencies including the World Bank, World Health Organization (WHO), United States Agency for International Development, USAID, United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, UNICEF, Department for International Development (DFID) – British High Commission, and also in collaboration with the private sector partners.
In Nigeria, the program has been adjudged as one of the top priorities of the present political leadership both at the Federal and State levels. A lot has been done on the promotion of the use of Insecticide Treated Nets (ITN) and chemoprophylaxis, while integrated malaria vector control which includes indoor residual spraying has also started receiving a lot of government attention.
Recently, the Federal Ministry of Health in partnership with Dizengoff has introduced IRS in the malaria control program with 3 pilot projects in Borno, Plateau and Lagos states. In addition, the World Bank Booster Project has scaled up malaria control programs including IRS in 7 states of the federation. We therefore advocate the use of Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) in combination with good environmental management and sanitation as the most reliable and sustainable means of controlling mosquitoes and therefore malaria in Nigeria.
Dizengoff's Bistar 10 WP
(IRS) Indoor Residual Product
One of such insecticides evaluated by WHO is BISTAR 10 WP (active ingredient is Bifenthrin 10% WP) manufactured by FMC Corporation of the USA. The product is currently being used for indoor residual spraying in many countries including Nigeria, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, and Zambia. Bistre 10 WP is approved by WHOPES and NAFDAC (Reg. No. A5-0032).
MAJOR ADVANTAGES OF BISTAR 10WP
BISTAR 10 WP has a unique molecular structure that offers special advantages over other forms of pyrethoids as follows:
1. It has practically no skin irritation to humans.
2. It has minimal irritability to mosquitoes themselves thereby allowing them to stay longer on the wall surface to absorb enough lethal dose resulting in a higher mass control effect.
3. BISTAR 10 WP has an effective residual effect of 3-6 months at low dosage rates. This means fewer applications per year.
4. BISTAR 10 WP controls all species of mosquitoes and other household insects such as cockroaches, flies,
ants, bedbugs.
5. BISTAR 10 WP is odorless, has no fumes, and therefore residents can re-enter the sprayed rooms at the shortest interval.
USE OF BISTAR WITH THE SEMCO SPRAYER
The World Health Organization (WHO) has also recommended that spraying of indoor residual insecticides should only be carried out using an approved indoor residual sprayer. Such sprayers should be able to deliver the required quantity of chemicals per unit area using the right nozzle at the right pressure. One of such approved sprayers is the SEMCO Sprayer.
World Health Organization Pesticide Evaluation Scheme (WHOPES)
The World Health Organization (WHO) in recent time has been in the forefront to promote the use of some synthetic pyrethroids designed specifically for indoor residual spraying against malaria vectors (mosquitoes) through its Pesticide Evaluation Scheme (WHOPES). The organization has also gone a step further to evaluate and approve certain sprayers designed specifically for indoor residual spraying in order to achieve maximum biological efficacy.
Program Justification
Malaria scourge and unemployment are twin problems that lead to poverty and death. But these can be simultaneously tackled through the empowerment of well trained and professional fumigation and pest control operators using the indoor residual spraying approach. This is a job creation program for Nigerians. Such trained persons while controlling mosquitoes and thus malaria for the public, will also be gainfully and profitably engaged. In due course, there will be a multiplier effect whereby these operators will further train more people, all of whom will work towards achieving the goal of malaria reduction in the state.
Job Content
The operators will be expected to carry out indoor residual spraying in people’s houses at a fee, which is expected to yield good returns to cover their costs and pay their labor. The job involves spraying all the inside walls, curtains, ceiling and eaves of a house with BISTAR 10 WP using the SEMCO compression sprayer.
Target GroupsThe target group for this project will be selected but interested and capable persons (male and female) who must have completed secondary school and or are literate enough to keep accurate records of their activities.
This project could be domiciled with the LGA as the sponsoring agency, but will have a multidisciplinary committee comprising members from such ministries as health, housing and environment, works, labor, youth and sports, etc. A code of conduct will be drawn for the participants and a monitoring committee will be setup to ensure that recommended standards and procedures are strictly adhered to.
Group Structure
The selected participants will be grouped in teams of 3 persons which should include 2 males and a female. The purpose of including a female in each team is to have a female that will make it easier for the cultural practice of the people to be respected. It is proposed that about 30 participants for each local government council (10 teams of 2 males and a female each) be established to cover a reasonable area of a local government council. This will therefore provide employment for 30 persons in each local government council as a pilot scheme. The teams will initially start from the urban areas and gradually expand to the rural areas. It is envisaged that each team will engage and train another team of 3 in due course, thereby establishing a multiplier effect to cover the entire council, and sustain the program.
Monitoring & Control
OPM, in collaboration with the state ministries of health, and the local government council will train the participants and certify them before they can be allowed to spray. Periodic re-certification will be necessary. Only participants with valid certifications will be allowed to spray for residents.
(Some information supplied by Dizengoff,W.A (Nigeria) Limited, revised January 2009)
If you would like more information regarding this program, please contact us.
BACK TO INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS
