Indoor residual spraying addresses high rates of malaria in northern Nigeria

“After the flood disaster there were a lot of insects, especially the mosquitoes which really increased. Since MENTOR sprayed insecticide inside our houses there are no mosquitoes nor other insects.” – Aisha Muhammad, Bollori 2 ward, Maiduguri.

In February, an indoor residual spraying campaign in flood-affected northern Nigeria was carried out to protect over 44,000 people in around 8,000 households from malaria and other vector-borne diseases.

Before the spraying, the MENTOR team met with the community to plan the campaign and recruit 132 IRS workers who were trained in line with WHO guidelines to carry out this important activity. Training was delivered in close coordination with local health authorities and community leaders.

Indoor residual spraying along with other disease control tools such as spatial repellents is significantly reducing the mosquito population and helping prevent diseases in communities already affected by the complex humanitarian crisis in the region.

“Before we can’t even sleep properly. Now after they have sprayed the area we and our children sleep peacefully.” – Modu Nanami, community representative, Gonidamgari ward.

This programme is supported by the Nigeria Humanitarian Fund / OCHA.

Despite progress being made to prevent diseases in the most vulnerable settings, we are extremely concerned that recent changes in the humanitarian sector could impact efforts in the future and jeopardise the lives of thousands of people.