By Denis Okello (denis.okello@vol.co.ug)
Lira
The Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) yesterday joined hands with ministry of health in the fight against malaria in Lira City and District.
The UPDF officers yesterday launched an exercise to spray water holding grounds as well as drainage channels in Lira City which are the lead mosquito breeding grounds.
Lira dsistrict ector control officer Rashid Mwesigye Etwop said that the mosquito larviciding exercise is part of the malaria control measures being used to curb malaria prevalence, besides Indoor Residual Spay (IRS), and the use of insecticide treated mosquito nets.
Etwop clarified that the chemicals being used to spray the mosquito breeding grounds known as “safe plus” is not harmful to humans.
Etwop, said malaria prevalence has risen from 8% to 50% in Uganda due to laxity by people to sleep under insecticide treated mosquito nets.
He decried disposal of garbage in water drainage channels which has provided a fertile ground for mosquito breeding.
David Ogutu an official working with vector control program in the ministry of health said they noted an increase in number of mosquitoes breeding across the country, a reason the UPDF has come out to the fight against the same.
