Vector control

Houses are mainly mud and wood, with constant infestation of cockroaches, termites, ants, weevils, mosquitos and rats. Bats inhabit any eaved buildings and with the larger animals come fleas and mites.

Scabies, flea bites, skin infections and malaria are perhaps the commonest vector borne diseases.

Falciparum Malaria is endemic in the Delta and is by far the most dangerous variety with fast onset and often fatal outcomes.

The use of mosquito nets donated by the government are encouraged and filling in of stagnant water near houses advised. With so much swampy terrain this is almost impossible. Many have small fish ponds near their houses that serve as excellent reservoirs for the larvae of the mosquito to breed.

Fish farm and mosquito breeding ground

Educational reading schemes used by the Health Care Workers

The Health Care Workers visit each quarter of the community and use simple stories containing health messages to stimulate discussions around disease modifying behaviour. With the majority at work in the farms or fishing these are opportunistic sessions more suitable than clinic sessions and also provides an opportunity to suggest help , identify house bound patients and be more proactive than the traditional health model of waiting for the patients to present at the clinic.

Public Health initiatives like these , to address disease vector control are more successful when relationships and trust are formed.