MITOOMA
The Mitooma District Woman Member of Parliament, Hon. Agasha Juliet Bashiisha in conjunction with ministry of health have launched the larvicide program aimed at killing mosquitoes in the district.
Larviciding refers to the regular application of chemical or microbial insecticides to water bodies or water containers to kill the aquatic immature forms of the mosquito (the larvae and pupae).
A larvicide is an insecticide that is specifically targeted against the larval life stage of an insect. Their most common use is against mosquitoes. Larvicide may be contact poisons, stomach poisons, growth regulators, or biological control agents. A larvicide being used is imported from Egypt with support from government of Uganda.
Speaking as the chief guest where she had represented the Deputy Speaker Rt Hon Thomas Tayebwa, MP Bashiisha said a free malaria society can easily transform the economy of the nation. In her words after thanking Hon Thomas Tayebwa for always working hard for his people, she asked all the people to always sleep under treated mosquito nets, clear bushes around, eliminate stagnant water and always seek medical care incase they get malaria signs.
According to statistics from Mitooma District Health Office especially from Ruhinda North , malaria has badly disturbed children below 5 years, pregnant women, old people and the district malaria rate is high where by people have been asked to be vigilant and use all means to fight this killer disease.
Batamba Vicent, senior entomologist working with Ministry of Health said this new formula called SAFE (Sunlight Activated Formulated Extract) will eliminate mosquitoes because its placed on bleeding sites and it kills larvae level which will eliminate adult mosquitoes and believes that if Ugandans follow all the guidelines, malaria will be kicked out of Uganda.
Dr. Mubangizi Alfred, head of Larvaciding program from Ministry of health asked district leaders to coordinate and sesitiyze communities about this new herbicide/program and make sure mosquitoes are killed at a younger stage so that they don’t cause harm to the society. He revealed that they have already launched the same program in Kigezi, Amulatar, Namutumba among other districts and they are transversing the whole country to make sure they fight malaria by killing young mosquitoes.
The launch was at Bitereko subcounty in Ruhinda North, Mitooma district on Friday this week where deputy RDC Madam Marycent Ariiyo, Chairman LC5 Mr Benon Karyeija, DPC Olumu, District Heath team, VHTs among other officials attended.
