ONGWEDIVA – The Ongwediva Town Council last week commenced with its indoor residual spraying campaign, targeting Extension 11 and New Reception, which both have confirmed cases of the disease.

The council’s public relations officer Jackson Muma said Extension 11 has three confirmed cases while New Reception has two cases, bringing the total cases recorded in Ongwediva to five.

“Other areas in the town will be reached only for mitigation,” Muma said.
Meanwhile, Muma urged residents to render the necessary support to the officials who are conducting the house-to-house spraying by ensuring that there are people on the premises during the morning.

He said the officials on duty wear green overalls and are at all times accompanied by a council vehicle, hence the community should be vigilant against unauthorised persons pretending to be council workers. Muma emphasised that the in-house spraying is important to ensure total protection from mosquito bites.

He further advised that the council will make use of K-Othrine chemical as approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for malaria vector control in modern structures.

“It is recommended that the occupants remain outside the structures for 15-30 minutes after the application of the chemical,” Muma advised residents.

Meanwhile, environmental health officer Penda Kashihakumwa said the campaign is going well.
“We are making progress – the only challenge we have is that most people [are not around] during the time the campaign is being conducted, hence we have no access to them,” Kashihakumwa explained.

He said that this week the council targets to finish with Extension 11 so that they can proceed to New Reception.