6/19/2006

All Africa Global Media

Environment watchdog NEMA has approved DDT for indoor residual spraying to fight malaria.

Dr. Sam Okware, the acting director in-charge of clinical and community health, yesterday said a NEMA Environment Impact Assessment found out that indoor DDT spraying had no negative impact on the environment.

"We have been cleared by NEMA. What is remaining is the resources for us to buy DDT and we start spraying immediately," Okware said.

"DDT is not readily on the market. We have to make an order with either China or South Africa, which are still manufacturing DDT," Okware said.

He said spraying would be conducted from community to community under the World Health Organisation's guidelines.

He said some southwestern districts were spraying a chemical known as ICON (Lambda cyhalothrin) as an alternative to DDT.

Makerere University scientists recently said there were no dangerous effects found on people from Kigezi where DDT was sprayed 40 years ago in a study carried out earlier this year.

Prof. Gabriel S. Bimenya's team said Kigezi residents had not suffered any negative side-effects from the DDT used in the 1960s.

The researchers tested people's urine and blood and also earthworms, soils, fish, beef and beans but found no negative effects.

The report was presented to President Yoweri Museveni recently. Opening the 8th Parliament recently, Museveni said the Cabinet would study the report.