By Shaffie Bakali
World Vision Malawi will this month conduct Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) Football Bonanza in Mangochi district as a way of mobilising communities to fully accept this year’s spraying activities.
The Bonanza which has been pegged at K31 million is scheduled to take place from 18th September to 13th October, 2023 where 32 teams from 17 operational sites will compete.
Speaking during the 2023 IRS Football Bonanza preparatory meeting held in Mangochi on Tuesday, Project Officer for World Vision-Global Fund Project in Mangochi, Medasi Ngosi said IRS campaign aims at reducing the spread of Malaria as well as provide opportunities to the youth.
“The aim of conducting IRS is to ensure that Mangochi has reduced cases of Malaria. On the other hand, the campaign is there to address unemployment among the youth where the youth get temporary employment in different cadres.
“The 32 teams will be divided into four clusters; thus eight teams per cluster. Winners from these zones will walk away with K350, 000 each as first token of appreciation, K250 000 each to all four runners up. Third spot holders will get K150, 000 each whilst the teams on position four will get K100, 000 each,” Ngosi said.
She added that the Bonanza will be a way of sensitising and communicating IRS key messages to the communities and promotion of local football in the district.
“The Bonanza will be used to disseminate benefits of IRS and effects of Malaria as well as to combat myths and misconceptions surrounding IRS. The dissemination of the messages will be supported by performances of local artists such as Skeffa Chimoto and Atoht Manje.
“As a way of promoting local football and empowering local players, World Vision will also invite players from Malawi’s top elite league thus TNM Super League, especially from Nyasa Big Bullets and Mighty Mukuru Wanderers,” she added.
Mangochi Environmental Health Officer, Atusayi Mbisa expressed gratitude to World Vision saying IRS has uplifted the burden that Mangochi District Health Office had.
“We are grateful to World Vision for this project. Since the beginning of the project, Malaria cases as well as related deaths have reduced and the quantity of malaria drugs that we procured has reduced,” Mbisa said.
Chairperson for Mangochi football governing body, Issa Ibrahim hailed World Vision for recognising football as one way of reaching to more audience with messages.
He assured the organisation that their body will provide all the support needed for the Bonanza to be successful.
IRS campaign, funded through Global Fund Project, is in its final year having commenced in 2019 with a planned duration of five years.
The ultimate goal is to have 50 percent reduction of Malaria patients, from 360 to 180 out of every 1,000 malaria patients.