Back to: Nkhoma IRS Program - Overview 

Nkhoma Hospital will implement an indoor residual spraying program in the program area. 10,238 households will be sprayed for a period of three years.

The program plans to use lamba-cyhalothrin (ICON ®). In March 2009 a study was conducted to determine the sensitivity of the vector against insecticides. ICON was identified as a suitable insecticide (Pemba, 2009).

Nkhoma Hospital has formulated an environmental management plan, which is required by the Government of Malawi before IRS can be implemented. The plan follows recommendations of the Environmental Impact Assessment which was done by RTI International for the Nkhota Khota pilot program6 and includes:
* safety procedures for staff
* protocols for treatment of insecticide poisoning
* requirements and procedures for storage of insecticide
* waste disposal (insecticide, packaging)

Before the spraying campaign extensive community consultation and sensitisation will take place through:
* Stakeholders meeting with NMCP, DHO Lilongwe, World Vision and others
* Door to door visits by Health Surveillance Assistants

Spraying will started October 26th to November 28th , 2009. The spray operators will be equiped with protective gear and a pressure pump.

The hospital receives technical support from the National Malaria Control Program and RTI International. Nkhoma Hospital has partnered with the department of Biology, Chancellor College (Dylo Pemba, entomologist)  for the entomological evaluation of the IRS program.

Back to: Nkhoma IRS Program - Overview