LASG Fumigates 15,000 Homes Against Mosquitoes

The Lagos State Government has sprayed insecticides on walls and ceilings of no fewer than 60,000 rooms in 15,000 households in four local government areas of the state.

The councils are Ikorodu, Ojo, Amuwo-Odofin and Badagry.

This is in its bid to control the prevalence of malaria in these areas.

Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, while monitoring the exercise in Ijede, Imota, Agura and Gberigbe communities in Ikorodu Local Government Area, said the choice of the four local governments was informed by the recommendation of the state’s epidemiologist team which identified the areas as having high rate of malaria prevalence based on their scientific research and survey.

He explained that government had shifted its emphasis on tackling the scourge of malaria in the state to prevention strategy, hence the adoption of the Indoor Residential Spraying (IRS), which he said, was the application of safe and effective chemicals (insecticide) on walls and ceilings of houses to kill mosquitoes and other harmful insects.

Idris, who was represented by the Director of Disease Control, Dr. Femi Taiwo, stated that the exercise would be on for the next one month after which mop up and follow up exercises would be conducted after another six months.

He said prior to the on-going IRS exercise, government trained 400 spray men and 100 supervisors for ten days, while a pilot test was conducted in Imota and Ikorodu to access the effectiveness of the chemicals to be employed.

“Prior to this exercise, our epidemiologist team went round to conduct researches and based on scientific research, survey and analysis the team recommended the areas with high prevalence of malaria burden for the pilot scheme.

“Our advocacy and mobilisation teams also went out to educate and sensitise the people of the areas about the exercise, to encourage them to buy into the programme after which our spray men and supervisors were trained.

“The exercise will be scaled up to include Ibeju-Lekki and Kosofe local government areas, following the completion of the on-going exercise. Similar exercise will be extended to all other local government areas of the state,” he said.

The commissioner urged residents of the areas to cooperate with the spray team by allowing them access to their houses, removing potable household items, especially food stuffs, water and valuable items before spraying, provide a jerry can of clean water to mix the chemicals for spraying and staying outside for at least two hours after the exercise, in order to allow the insecticide to dry.