BULAWAYO City Council (BCC) has started stream bank spraying in a bid to fight malaria as summer kicks in.
According to latest council minutes, ward 11 councillor Susan Sithole demanded answers on what the municipality was doing to prevent malaria-related deaths.
The minutes state that there has been alarming breeding of mosquitoes in high-density suburbs.
Sithole said streams and storm drains were a breeding ground for mosquitoes and she was supported by other councillors who wanted to know if the local authority had a strategy to deal with mosquito breeding sites.
In response, BCC health services department director Edwin Mzingwane said council had identified several mosquito breeding hotspots across the city as it moved to control the spread of malaria during the rainy season.
“Residents were allowed to request residual spraying and a four-roomed house will cost US$39,” Mzingwane added.
“Mosquitoes found in the city are harmless. Council is in the process of acquiring a fogging machine that will deal with adult mosquitoes.”
In April, the Health and Child Care ministry said the country had recorded five malaria deaths and 1 588 cases for the week ending March 24, 2024.
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