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News/Event Item
Uganda: Global Health Body Approves DDT Use
May 7, 2008
By Joyce Namutebi and John Odyek Kampala
The World Health Organisation and the European Union have cleared Uganda to spray DDT to kill mosquitoes that spread malaria. Health minister Dr. Stephen Mallinga told Parliament that the organisations made the approval after studying how Uganda would spray the chemical.
He explained that DDT would be prayed on walls inside houses to repel the mosquitoes and it would stay on the walls for about six months. The spraying, the minister added, had begun in the most malaria endemic areas in Oyam and Apac districts in the northern region. Environmentalists have opposed the use of the chemical, saying it is harmful to human beings but the health ministry insists it is safe. Mallinga urged MPs to discuss the reintroduction of DDT.
He explained that the ministry had used ICON in Kigezi, Amuru and Pader to kill mosquitoes but it lasts a short time and is more expensive. Erute South MP John Odit (UPC) was worried that the Government had used ICON in the southwest and Acholi, but chose to apply DDT in Lango, an area that it had gazetted for organic cotton production.
For full article, visit:
http://allafrica.com/stories/200805080220.html
category: News from Other Sources : General Health News
contributed by Liza Nanni on 8 May 2008
Africa :
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