USAID Zambia Mission Director Visits Mambwe District for Indoor Residual Spraying

This week’s Fist Bump goes to the VectorLink Zambia team, who recently hosted the new USAID/Zambia Mission Director Peter Wiebler and other USAID/PMI Zambia staff in Mambwe District, Eastern Province during the IRS campaign. The new Mission Director, who arrived in Zambia about two and a half months ago, observed first-hand the U.S. government’s support through the PMI VectorLink Project to Zambia’s 2022 IRS campaign, which began in late September in 18 districts across three of the 10 provinces.

Mr. Wiebler, accompanied by USAID and PMI staff, the NMEC Director, Health Director for Eastern Province, Health Director for Mambwe District, and other provincial and district health staff, first observed the spray teams’ morning mobilization activity at the central Mambwe operational site on Thursday, October 13. The team also inspected the site store and wash bay facilities. The District Health Director, Dr. George Mshanga gave a brief presentation on the malaria picture in the district, which showed a downward trend in the number of cases and deaths attributed to malaria in recent years.

The Mission Director and team then proceeded to Chikosi Village where they observed spraying by the VectorLink Zambia team and paid a courtesy visit to the Headman (chief) of the village, Mr. Isaiah Malipita, who remarked, “As Headman for the village, I wholeheartedly support the IRS program and pledge to support and work hand-in-hand with the Ministry of Health and [PMI] VectorLink in sensitizing my community to continue to accept the program.”

Mr. Wiebler thanked the spray team members for their commitment and dedication to the fight against malaria. In his subsequent comments to the PMI organizing team, he stated, “A huge and sincere thank you to all who organized this meticulously planned, fascinating, and very rewarding trip.  I know an incredible amount of work goes into these outings… It was a great trip.” The VectorLink Zambia 2022 spray campaign is estimated to protect more than 2.4 million Zambians from malaria.

Kudos to the VectorLink Zambia team for their great work; we wish you a great conclusion to your campaign!