Summary

In this study session, you have learned that:

• IRS is one of the most important vector control and malaria prevention methods widely used in Ethiopia.
• Insecticides are sprayed onto the inner walls of houses, furniture and other structures using hand-operated spray pumps.
• The main objective of IRS is to kill adult mosquitoes that enter houses to bite people and rest inside houses after a blood meal.
• IRS may not provide individual protection; people sleeping in sprayed houses can still be bitten by mosquitoes.
• Unlike ITNs which provide individual protection, the aim of IRS is to provide community protection. All structures that could be used as resting places should be carefully sprayed to deny any safe shelter for the vector mosquito; achieving high coverage is extremely important.
• It very important that instructions on safe handling and disposal of insecticides are strictly followed.
• Proper communication and education of the population will help to increase acceptability of IRS operation; people have to know that re-plastering of houses before three to six months would make IRS ineffective.
• IRS operations should be completed just before the beginning of the malaria transmission season.
• Quality of spray operation is very important for IRS to be effective and the quality depends on effective training of the spray operators.
• The community should understand that the objective of IRS is to kill the mosquitoes and protect people from malaria; it is not to kill bedbugs or other pests.
• You are the key person in planning and implementation of IRS in your village; ask for support from community leaders, the health centre and District Health Office whenever necessary.