LAGOS – The Lagos State Government said on Thursday that no fewer than 51,800 rooms in 12,850 households had so far been sprayed during the ongoing 40 days indoor residual spraying (IRS) exercise in the State.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris, said this in a statement in Lagos.
He said that the exercise has held in six local governments and 13 local council development areas (LGAs/LCDAs).
Idris said it was part of the environmental control strategy of the state government’s Malaria Control Programme.
He said that the exercise, which was part of the Government’s integrated vector management programme aimed at combating malaria, started a month ago and was billed to end in 10 days time.
According to him, the IRS is the application of long-lasting chemical insecticides on the walls and ceilings of all houses and domestic animal shelters, to kill adult vector mosquitoes.
“The aim is to curtail malaria transmission by reducing the life span of vector mosquitoes and reduce the feeding of anopheles mosquitoes which are the major means of vector transmission in the country,” he said.
Idris said that prior to the commencement of the 40-day spraying exercise; various pre-implementation activities were planned and implemented.
According to him, this was done with a view to ensuring maximum cooperation, acceptance and effectiveness of the exercise.
“The pre-implementation activities included geographical information system mapping exercise of structures and households to be covered in the proposed IRS sites.
“This is with a view to estimating the types of structures to be sprayed, rooms, households and total population, procurement of adequate quantities of chemicals, pumps or sprayers and spare kits,” the commissioner added. (NAN)