The Government has intensified efforts to combat malaria through an 18-day Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) programme targeting over 7,770 households in Malaba Central, Busia County.
Spray operators are moving from household to household, with a target of spraying at least 10 households per day per operator. They will also conduct a mop-up exercise after the conclusion of the 18 days.
Busia County remains one of the regions most affected by malaria in Kenya, with a high prevalence rate.
Recent malaria control interventions in the county have begun yielding results, with incidence dropping from 763 cases per 1,000 people in December 2023 to 517 per 1,000 in June 2024, according to the Ministry of Health.
IRS Coordinator for Teso North, Teso South and Teso Central sub-counties, George Omondi, said the IRS method is effective in controlling malaria infections when used alongside other strategies such as Insecticide-Treated Mosquito Nets (ITNs).
Omondi explained that Indoor Residual Spraying involves trained operators applying insecticide on internal walls, ceilings and surfaces where mosquitoes commonly rest.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), IRS kills mosquitoes that land on treated surfaces after feeding, reducing their lifespan and preventing them from transmitting malaria to another person.
Omondi noted that the spraying campaign is conducted once every year, usually in March, and that all operators are well trained, use approved insecticides, and that the exercise is closely supervised to ensure safety and effectiveness.
By Moses Wekesa
