Dr. Ronald Kasyaba
29 January 2007
opinion
Kampala — THE World Health Organisation, the European Union, and our very own NEMA have shone a green light, and recommended the use of DDT for indoor residual spraying as a safe, and effective method to the prevention and control malaria. However, the debate on its safety, still rages on regarding its effects on human health, agriculture and livestock.
So far, the debate has mainly focused the negative side of DDT, bringing out its health hazards and environmental dangers. The positive side seems to have been deliberately side-lined, especially, the economic benefits from the control of ill-health resulting from malaria.
Human health is influenced mainly by social and environmental factors, which, among others, include income, employment, access to food and exposure to agents in water, air and soil. In agricultural communities, for which Uganda is, with over 80% of Uganda's population dependent primarily on agriculture, poor health reduces productivity and incomes. This in turn impairs people's ability to address ill-health, and thus hindering economic development.
According to Ministry of Health, two in every five out-patients clinic visits are malaria cases. On average, malaria accounts for 38% or more in some areas, of the total admissions. Poor communities, experience the greatest impact.
For children, it results in recurrent school absenteeism, poor performance and early school drop-outs. The indoor spraying of DDT, following proper guidelines is aimed at curtailing ill-health caused by malaria. Ill-health accounts largely for agricultural labour dynamics, and household incomes, which in turn, spur economic development.
Kabale district has shown a reduction in severe malaria admissions in the major hospital, following the indoor residual spraying with Icon, which was sprayed late last year. However, Icon has a shorter duration of stay and therefore protection and will require a repeat of household spraying. however, DDT lasts longer and provides long lasting protection.
The support for indoor spraying with DDT will not only have a direct effect of reducing ill-health and death resulting from malaria, but will also indirectly improve household incomes and economic growth.
The writer is a medical officer at Kabale Regional Hospital
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