[afro-nets] Mosquito/ Malaria Control (2)

[Bill Nesler <sdbc@hur.midco.net>]

Mosquito/ Malaria Control (2)
-----------------------------

Mosquito/Malaria Control for Monrovia, Liberia

The malaria problem in Monrovia is quite well known, with well
over half of all the disease in the city being malaria. This
should come as no surprise when it is realized that there are
some 15,000 acres of mangrove swamp in the center of the metro-
politan area of about 50,000 acres.

While this presents a pretty bleak picture, there are legiti-
mate, viable solutions to this problem. Aggressive mosquito con-
trol projects eradicated malaria in the USA some 50-60 years
ago. Today, abatement programs effectively prevent malaria from
recurring in the entire country. There is no reason that these
same methodologies cannot be applied in Monrovia.

Modern mosquito control in places such as southern Florida make
extensive use of aircraft in the application of appropriate in-
secticides. In most cases this is supplemented by the use of
ground fogging, where the road system permits. In all cases the
chemicals used are of very low toxicity to non-target organisms,
especially when applied at the extremely low rates customary in
mosquito control. Many of these materials are applied at rates
of no more than ½ ounce per acre of total spray. In southern
Florida, 95% mosquito mortality is the common result of control
activities.

Concerning any such future operations in Monrovia; the mortality
rates in the mosquito population should be similar to those men-
tioned above. This would undoubtedly be accompanied by a dra-
matic decrease in the incidence of malaria. Some authorities es-
timate this reduction could be as much as 80% in the first year
alone. While these estimates require some educated speculation
(primarily because this type work has never been done in Mon-
rovia), there is no doubt that there is no better way to control
malaria in such an environment. There is no location on earth
that has ever controlled malaria without controlling the mos-
quito population. A very good example is the Dominican Republic,
which has virtually no malaria, sharing an island with Haiti,
which has a very high incidence of this parasite. The former
practices mosquito control, while the latter does not.

This project was originally proposed in 1989, just before the
outbreak of the civil war in Liberia. At that time, the Ministry
of Health and Social Welfare had accepted this project and we
were in the process of locating funding when the war broke out.
A Dr. Robert Kpoto was the chief medical officer and Deputy Min-
ister at that time, and the Ministry officer in charge of this
proposal.

The estimated cost for this project is $15,000,000, covering a 5
year period. This period would be used to establish an operation
that should be sustainable with local funding (probably some
form of local tax) and local personnel. The first year would
cost about $7,000,000, followed by rapidly decreasing costs as
control of the mosquito population is established. By the fourth
year the annual cost should stabilize at a little over a million
dollars a year.

The knowledge gained about the local mosquito population and its
response to control activities will be invaluable for further
abatement projects throughout Liberia, and indeed, West Africa.
Expansion to other areas of Liberia is part of this plan, as
soon as a project is established and operating in Monrovia.

Concerning the methodologies proposed; If one considers the
15,000 acres of mosquito breeding ground in the middle of Mon-
rovia, there is no way to attack this area except by air. The
ground fogging of residential areas will be done at night; in
much the same manner such operations are conducted in the US. To
provide maximum access to the anopheles, areas inaccessible by
road will be sprayed by air at night. These methods are tried
and proven and will yield the desired results.

A copy of the complete proposal is available on request. The
principals for this proposal are Bill Nesler, a long time resi-
dent of Liberia with extensive experience in pest control by
air, and Delvin Walker, an entomologist with much experience
working with NGO,s and one time chair of the science department
at Cuttington college in Liberia.

We can be reached at:

Bill Nesler
mailto:sdbc@hur.midco.net