Otjiwarongo:The Otjozondjupa Regional Health Directorate is enhancing its efforts to combat malaria by deploying mosquito-spraying teams to Okakarara, Grootfontein, and parts of Otjiwarongo. The initiative aims to reduce malaria cases in these areas, with a call for residents to cooperate with the teams.
According to Namibia Press Agency , the Otjiwarongo information-sharing session was organized by the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology alongside the Ministry of Health and Social Services. Olivia Mbabi, an environmental practitioner from the Okakarara Health District, reported that hospitals in the region have recorded 860 malaria cases this year.
The focus of the campaign is to decrease mosquito density in rural villages, particularly in Grootfontein, Tsumkwe, Okakarara Constituency, and rural Otjiwarongo. Mbabi mentioned that one malaria-related death has been confirmed at the Grootfontein State Hospital this year.
The indoor residual spraying exercise is designed to kill mosquitoes by applying insecticide to indoor surfaces. When mosquitoes land on these treated surfaces, they absorb the insecticide and die immediately. The campaign targets 151 villages, with 113 in the Grootfontein Health District, including Tsumkwe, and 38 in the Okakarara Constituency.
The priority is on homes with a high population of elderly individuals, pregnant women, and children under five years. Four teams, comprising a total of 16 fieldworkers, have been deployed to each district, supported by field supervisors.
This week, the teams are operating in the Tsumkwe and Okamatapati areas. They are utilizing Fludora Fusion, an insecticide approved by the World Health Organization for controlling mosquitoes through indoor residual spraying.
The national campaign commenced in September and is scheduled to conclude on 27 November 2026. Mbabi emphasizes the importance of community support to ensure the campaign reaches all targeted households, thereby contributing to a reduction in malaria transmission in the region.