SFH and Ministry of Health launch the product awareness campaign in Nyagatare

Nyagatare– On Wednesday September 11, 2019 Society for Family Heath- Rwanda and the Rwanda Ministry of Health  launched a malaria prevention campaign aimed at product awareness and  distribution of mosquito repellents at community level.

The campaign will be implemented in the districts of Nyagatare, Kirehe, Ngoma, Bugesera, Rubavu, Rulindo, Nyanza, Nyamasheke, Gisagara and Rusizi.

While launching the campaign in Nyagatare district the Minister of Health Dr. Diane Gashumba said availing mosquito repellents at community level will greatly contribute to the fight against malaria and will supplement other existing malaria control measures already being implemented at the community level, she urged Nyagatare residents to use a combination of all the prevention measures for effective malaria control and prevention.

Statistics from Nyagatare district  indicate that malaria cases fell from  100, 000 cases per year to about 15,000 in the past four years , due to  sensitisation campaigns, and malaria control and prevention measures such as Indoor Residual Spraying and use of mosquito nets. Minister Gashumba commended Nyagatare residents for their efforts in fighting malaria. According to Ministry of Health statistics, 80 per cent of Rwanda’s malaria cases are in Eastern and Southern provinces and this has seen government stepping up more efforts to bring down numbers. The Minister said that as a result of several interventions, malaria cases in the country have drastically reduced almost five times in past four years adding that this has made Rwanda rank high in reducing malaria cases in Africa. According to World Health Organisation-WHO Rwanda and Ethiopia are leading in Africa in reducing malaria cases as well as Malaria deaths.

David MUSHABE, the Mayor Nyagatare district says that the introduction of other malaria prevention measures such as use of mosquito repellents will greatly contribute to malaria prevention.  “Most of our people spend time outdoors in  time in gardens and looking after cattle and this exposes them to mosquitoes, the repellents are a handy solution”  he explained and thanked  SFH-Rwanda for its outstanding  contribution  in fighting Malaria in Nyagatare district. Dr Sabin Nsanzimana, the Director General of Rwanda bio Medical centre-RBC noted that the additional measures and approach will help the country eradicate malaria.

“I have been using mosquito nets, however, I would be bitten by mosquitoes in the garden in evening hours and I would get malaria,” said Claude Mbonimpa, a resident of Rwimiyaga sector, adding that he was taught  how to use the repellents and he is happy, I have been told that I use the jelly on the face and hands and legs where mosquitoes bite more often because it is not covered.

Colletta Umwali a community health worker from Musheli sector in Nyagatare district says that there has been high numbers of people asking or mosquito repellents. “I have been receiving people asking for mosquito repellents because they have found out that it can protect against mosquitoes wherever you are,” she said.

Umwali is one of the selected Community health workers in the district who were trained at district level on how to use repellents and mosquito coils and have been selling them at the village level.