PMI launches second round of indoor residual spraying in northern Senegal

PMI-trained sprayers apply insecticide to the walls of Khady Thiam Gaye's home in Rosso, Senegal, at the launch of a second round of indoor residual spraying in northern Senegal's Richard Toll district. Photo: Richard Nyberg, USAID

ROSSO, March 3, 2008 – Twenty-five teams trained under the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) launched the second round of indoor residual spraying today in the northern district of Richard Toll, along the border with Mauritania. 

By the end of the six-week campaign, the 105 sprayers are expected to have treated the walls of 22,600 homes to protect more than 155,000 people living near the banks of the Senegal River.

“Indoor residual spraying is an important part in the campaign to combat malaria, along with insecticide-treated bednets and intermittent malaria treatment of pregnant women,” Dr. Lamine Dièye, the district’s chief medical officer, told a crowd at the launching ceremony in front of the mayor’s office.

He added that there had been a “clear reduction” in the number of cases of malaria in his district. “It is something terrific; we should recognize and congratulate it. I call on the entire population to embrace the strategy, not forgetting to consult a medical professional on noticing the first symptom of malaria.”

Rosso’s Mayor, Oumar Sory Diop, urged his entire community to get behind the PMI-funded campaign. “We hope this exercise will succeed, just like the first.”

“This is the second time that PMI has come to the district of Richard Toll to spray the inside wall of homes after we worked with the Ministry of Health to start this program last June, “ said Mary Cobb, a health officer in charge of malaria programs at USAID/Senegal. “We are committed to this campaign, and will return a third time in June to help communities prepare for the ensuing malaria season. “

Khady Thiam Gaye, right, is sold on the idea of indoor residual spraying as it drastically reduced the number of malaria cases in her house since 2007. Photo: Richard Nyberg, USAIDt.

Khady Thiam Gaye’s house was the first to be sprayed during the second round of spraying. Local officials watched as four sprayers covered from head to toe in protective clothing and equipment blasted the walls of her home.

“Nearly everyone in this family of 20 gets malaria regularly,” she said as the sprayers finished their work. “But after the first round of spraying last year, we have had only three cases. We would like to thank the American people because we know that this is going to help improve our health and help us lead better lives.”

First-round spraying last May to August helped prevent malaria among nearly 700,000 people in the districts of Nioro, Richard Toll, and Vélingara. PMI has also launched a new collaboration with Peace Corps in Senegal and has tapped into the Peace Corps Volunteers living in the Richard Toll district to help their communities prepare for the spraying campaign.