Kenya Medical Research Institue-Kenya
Abstract: Malaria is a major cause of infant mortality and is the only insect borne parasitic disease comparable in impact to the world’s major killer transmissable diseases: diarrhea, acute respiratory infections, tuberculosis and AIDS. In 1992, the Global Strategy for Malaria Control was adopted in Amsterdam as a response to the increasing global malaria burden, which is now responsible for about 515 million cases and one million deaths annually. The strategy was founded on four technical elements, which included early diagnosis and prompt treatment of malaria, planning and implementation of selective and sustainable preventive measures including vector control, early detection, containment or prevention of epidemics,
and, strengthening of local capacities in basic and applied research. However, in most parts of Africa, the initial national action plans derived from the strategy had inadequately developed vector control components. As a result, progress in the implementation of vector control activities remained very limited. Some of the factors for the limited vector control implementation included health sector reforms and decentralization, insufficient guidance on vector control implementation, low priority to vector control with insufficient resource allocation, dismantled infrastructure, lack of technical competencies exacerbated by the high vector control staff attrition, and limited cost-effective technical options. In addition, there were growing concerns over the use of indoor residual spraying with DDT for malaria vector control. Malaria is currently one of the highest public health priorities for the international community. The B&M Gates Foundation is involved in the development of new or improved insecticide products for malaria vector control. The recent WHO position statement on IRS has brought an important change in the landscape of malaria control in
Africa. It has stimulated a renewed interest on malaria prevention with emphasis on vector control and will exploit the power of chemical based interventions in reducing and eventually stopping malaria transmission. The current and future strategies for controlling malaria mosquitoes are reviewed.