Vector control for malaria elimination in Botswana: progress, gaps and opportunities

• Published in: Malaria Journal
• Main Authors: Tefo Kesaobaka Kgoroebutswe, Ntebaleng Makate, Ulrike Fillinger, Mandla Mpho, Godira Segoea, Peter Onyango Sangoro, Clifford Maina Mutero, Emmanuel Chanda, Davies Ntebela, Mpho Mogopa, Tjantilili Mosweunyane, Theresia Estomih Nkya
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2020
• Subjects: Malaria; Entomology; Integrated vector management; Elimination; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Infectious and parasitic diseases; RC109-216; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-020-03375-6; https://doaj.org/article/0c07aacb1e4644db881bb4c9cd4ec934

Abstract Botswana has in the recent past 10 years made tremendous progress in the control of malaria and this informed re-orientation from malaria control to malaria elimination by the year 2020. This progress is attributed to improved case management, and scale-up of key vector control interventions; indoor residual spraying (IRS) and long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs). However, insecticide resistance, outdoor biting and resting, and predisposing human behaviour, such as staying outdoors or sleeping outdoors without the use of protective measures, pose a challenge to the realization of the full impact of LLINs and IRS. This, together with the paucity of entomological data, inadequate resources and weak community participation for vector control programme implementation delayed attainment of Botswana’s goal of malaria elimination. Also, the Botswana National Malaria Programme (NMP) experiences the lack of intersectoral collaborations and operational research for evidence-based decision making. This case study focuses on the vector control aspect of malaria elimination by identifying challenges and explores opportunities that could be taken advantage of to benefit the NMP to optimize and augment the current vector control interventions to achieve malaria elimination by the year 2030 as per the Global Technical Strategy for Malaria 2016–2030 targets. The authors emphasize the need for timely and quality entomological surveillance, operational research and integrated vector management.