Residents urged to intensify malaria fight

RESIDENTS here have been urged to fight against malaria by complying with indoors residual spraying (IRS) programme which is currently underway, ahead of the 2017 /18 farming season.

Speaking at a sensitisation workshop organised by the Ministry of Health and Child Care in Karoi last Friday provincial field officer for malaria control Mr Clive Jonga urged communities to seriously participate during the IRS programme which is underway so as to avert the disease which has been a thorn in the flesh for the province over the years.

“Our province is on top in terms of malaria control nationwide, so let’s take the IRS programmes seriously. The programme has been less valued in communities as household members were shunning the program,” said Jonga.

He also took a swipe at tobacco farmers who store the golden leaf in their houses saying they should also spray their areas during the tobacco cropping season to ensure they are protected from the deadly disease.

“During tobacco season farmers usually resist indoors residual spraying fearing that their tobacco will be discarded on the market. This has posed a lot of malaria threat to these farmers mostly in Hurungwe and surrounding areas where tobacco farming is on the increase,” said Mr Jonga.

“Tobacco farmers were saying when tobacco brought to floors is tested unwanted chemicals were being found resulting in the leaf being discarded.

“However, we should be cognisant of the fact that if we lose farmers there will be no tobacco to talk about so let’s all fight against the disease.”

Mr Jonga also encouraged stakeholder participation in the fight against malaria.

“It is a collective effort to end malaria, all the heads of key departments’ and ministries, local business and provincial officers you should be at forefront fighting to end malaria in the province,” he said.