MOSQUITOE DAY: EHOCON, PECAN EMBARK ON VECTOR CONTROL IN FCT……….
By:Safiya Abdulrahim Dabban
The Environmental Health Officers Council of Nigeria (EHOCON) in collaboration with the Pest Control Association of Nigeria (PECAN) has embarked on a pest control campaign in the Federal Capital Territory and its environs.
The exercise is part of activities towards the celebration of the World Mosquito Day with the theme: Fighting the world’s Deadliest Killer – The Mosquito.
The campaign commenced with a road walk from Area One roundabout, through the International Conference Center to Berger Junction, from where the campaign train proceeded to the new Kuchingoro IDP camp.
The Registrar of EHOCON, Dr. Yakubu Baba, represented by a director in the council Isa Adamu said the ministry of Environment was carrying out a special disease/vector control program against mosquitoes and other parasites to reduce the malaria burden.
The National president of PECAN Kunle Williams advocated a strong partnership between government and the private sector to guarantee success in the fight against mosquitoes.
According to him , ” we are bringing our expertise, getting rid of mosquitoes is preventive. We are joining the government in effort to prevent malaria, there are lots of innovation now like Ariel spraying, and vaccine development to curb malaria.”
The Chairman FCT Chapter of PECAN, Terungwe Abari said the body was at the IDP camp to distribute insecticides and other materials as well as demonstrate how to eradicate mosquitoes from homes.
The representative of the National Orientation Agency Ijeoma Agbanusi gave assurance that her agency would carry the campaign down to the grassroots.
Residents of the new Kuchingoro IDP camp expressed joy over the visit by the EHOCON and the PECAN pledged to make use of the materials and rightly apply the information they received.