Mutare embarks on indoor residual spraying

Mutare (Pungwe News-New Ziana)-The Mutare City Council has embarked on indoor residual spraying in certain parts of the municipality which are usually infested with mosquitoes as part of efforts to curb malaria.

The exercise is aimed at reducing malaria related deaths in and around the city.

Areas set to be sprayed include Gimboki, Federation, Mushamukadzi, Florida, Fairbridge Extension, Sanitation Camp, Remand Home, Hobhouse 1-3, Weimouth and Fern Valley.

Council spokesperson Spren Mtiwi cornfirmed that the council was working in conjunction with the Ministry of Health and Child Care in the residential indoor spraying programme.

The program started on Wednesday and will run until February 6 this year.

“We are rolling out the indoor residual spraying program to curb and prevent malaria.

“We are working in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Child Care and we anticipate to eliminate Malaria and ensure that Mutare reverts to it’s None Malaria zone status,” Mtiwi said.

He said they were embarking on a residential spraying program to reduce malaria related deaths and possibly eradicating the spread of the diseases.

“We want to ensure that cases of malaria are reduced drastically with the ultimate goal being to eliminate the disease completely.

“We can work together collectively and reduce malaria and curb the spread of it.

“We want to ensure that the disease is controlled and does not spread to other suburbs that have not recorded any cases,” said the council spokesperson.

In 2019, the city recorded 1177 cases while in 2018 alone, 1038 cases were recorded.

“Since the beginning of the year, we have recorded 194 malaria cases and we are prepared to fight malaria and reduce the cases.

“Mutare used to be a non Malaria zone around 2008 and no cases were recorded but there has been a shift now and we are now a malaria zone. Our primary focus is to reclaim our status as non malaria zone,” said the council spokesperson.

He went on to say that in 2018, 14 people died, adding that the cases were declining and the local authority was scaling up prevention measures.

“We encouraged people residing in the mentioned areas to cooperate with the authorities so that the programme will become a success,” said Mutiwi.
Pungwe News-New Ziana