Nkhata Bay District Council is engaging communities in readiness for the Indoor Residue Spray (IRS) campaign to prevent the spread of malaria.

Speaking on Tuesday in group village head Chenyentha in Traditional Authority Malanda, the council’s spokesperson Patrick Botha said the campaign is crucial in the fight against malaria in the district.

Healthcare worker Rebecca Chirambo (C) speaks during the meeting

“We want households to get ready for the spraying activities scheduled for October to November, which is the peak season for mosquitoes,” he said.

Botha said they hope that people will understand the importance of the exercise and comply when health workers visit them to spray their homes with insecticides meant to kill mosquito larvae.

One of the community members, William Chirwa said he was ready for the exercise.

“The exercise kills mosquitoes which transmit malaria germs. I will support the health workers during the campaign,” he said.

The four-year IRS exercise, which started in 2020 and is expected to run up to 2023, is targeting all habitable structures in the district.

With funding from the Global Fund, government is implementing the IRS  exercise in Nkhata Bay, Mangochi, Balaka and Nkhotakota districts.

Malaria remains one of the dangerous diseases causing hospital admissions and deaths among many under-five children in the country.

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