Pest Control Association of Nigeria (PECAN) have urged the Federal Government to engage the private sector to use new technologies to control the breeding of mosquitoes which spread deadly malaria.
Lafiya360 reports that the association stressed that the illegal use of chemicals to control mosquitoes in the environment cause more harm than good, as it causes pollution and endangers the health of residents in any community.
It, therefore, urged the Federal Government to engage private sector practitioners in the deployment of new technologies to control the breeding of mosquitoes, while focusing on environmental measures and policies to control mosquitoes.
The National President of PECAN, Olakunle Williams, while speaking during a conference in Abuja to commemorate this year’s World Mosquito Day, with the theme: Fighting the World’s Deadliest Killer – The Mosquito, said, “Mosquito-borne diseases continue to pose significant threats to public health globally. The private sector’s involvement in mosquito control interventions has gained attention due to its potential to bring innovation, efficiency, and resources to combat these diseases.
“The private sector often possesses advanced technologies and research capabilities that can lead to the development of novel mosquito control methods. This includes innovative approaches such as genetically modified mosquitoes or precision-targeted insecticides.
“Private companies can allocate substantial financial and human resources to mosquito control efforts, potentially accelerating the development and deployment of interventions on a larger scale.
“Private sector practices, such as streamlined supply chains and efficient management, can enhance the delivery of mosquito control measures, making interventions more effective in disease prevention.
“Collaboration between public health agencies and private companies can leverage expertise from both sectors, fostering synergistic efforts to tackle mosquito-borne diseases.”
The Registrar and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON), Yakubu Baba, who was represented by the Director, Dept. of Registration, Ethics and Standards, Issa Adamu added, “We need to build the capacity and structure of delivery of the malaria control program. Malaria is attributable to many factors, but since we are focusing on mosquitoes, one of the gaps in the control of malaria is the total neglect of the vector.
“The programming has also not been favourable to mosquito control activities at the States and Federal levels. If there are no concerted efforts targeted at mosquitoes, it will be difficult to tackle the menace of malaria.”