Madinah Tebajjukira
23 October 2008
Kampala — OVER 50 MPs have asked the health ministry to start in-door spraying of DDT in their constituencies.
The MPs who attended the malaria sensitisation workshop at Parliament on Wednesday said it was unfortunate that DDT spraying had been turned political by a few 'selfish' individuals.
Alex Byarugaba (Isingiro South), Beatrice Lagada (Oyam) and Florence Ekwau (Kaberamaido) proposed that the ministry embarks on spraying DDT in individual homes as it waits to resolve a pending court injunction. They said studies in their constituencies showed people supported the spraying of DDT.
But the health minister, Dr. Stephen Mallinga, said: "Spraying individual home will not solve the problem of malaria because neighbouring families will still suffer from malaria."
Mallinga said he had asked the Attorney General to identify ways for the country to resume the spraying of DDT despite the court injunction.
MPs from Oyam, Isha Otto Amiza and Ben Wacha,said malaria cases had decreased as a result of DDT spraying.
Early this year, the Government launched DDT spraying in Oyam and Apac districts but the exercise was halted when some non-governmental organisations dragged the Government to court, opposing the move.
The NGOs argued that DDT causes impotence, cancer and affects the environment.
William Nsubuga (Buvuma) advised the health ministry to sensitise the public to support the spraying of DDT.
Alex Oceng (Gulu municipality) urged the Government to start spraying DDT in the district, saying there was no cotton growing in the area.
Dr Myers Mugerwa, who is in charge of research at the national malaria control programme, asked MPs to amend the Public Health Act. He called for tougher punishment for those who refused to have their homes sprayed with DDT.
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