The 2016 Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) campaign, aimed at protecting thousands of people by spraying insecticide on the walls, ceilings and other indoor resting places of mosquitoes that transmit malaria has been launched.
The month-long campaign, which began on Thursday is being undertaken in West Mamprusi, East Mamprusi, Bunkpurugu/Yunyoo, Kumbungu and Mamprugu/Moaduri Districts of the Northern Region covering more than 200,000 structures across more than 500 communities.
The campaign, under the auspices of the United States President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), started operating in the country in 2008, with funding from the US through the PMI/United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Dr Constance Bart-Plange, Programme Manager of the National Malaria Control Programme, whose speech was read on her behalf at the launch of the IRS campaign at Walewale in the West Mamprusi District said the country has made incredible gains in the fight against malaria in the last decade.
Dr Bart-Plange said the country is accelerating progress to save lives, adding, deaths associated with malaria dropped from 6,198 cases in 2000 to 2,133 cases in 2015.
She, however, emphasised the need for government and key institutions including district assemblies as well as the global health community, donor partners, funding agencies and the private sector, to continue to invest in the fight against malaria to sustain the gains made and eliminate the disease worldwide.
Mr David Wuni, West Mamprusi District Chief Executive whose speech on his behalf expressed dissatisfaction about the refusal of people to sleep under insecticide treated nets (ITN).
He urged the community leaders to educate their people to embrace the use of ITNs.
Mr Wuni appealed to the people to embrace the IRS campaign.
Dr Yemane Yihdego, Chief of Party of PMI/USAID emphasised the need to create awareness amongst members of the beneficiary communities about the campaign to enable them to participate to ensure the success.
Dr Yihdego appealed to beneficiary communities to grant access to spraying teams to enter their premises to spray them to kill mosquitoes.
Dr Philip Ricks, Centre for Disease Control and Prevention/PMI Advisor, who represented the US government pledged his government’s commitment to continue to work together with Ghana and other partners to achieve progress in all spheres of life.
Nayiri Naa Bohagu Mahami, Overlord of the Mamprugu Traditional Area, who was represented at the launch, thanked the US for the initiative, saying, it is helping to reduce the incidence of malaria in the country.
Nayiri Mahami appealed to all to cooperate with the spraying teams to ensure the success of the campaign.