Muscat Municipality calls on the community to join efforts to control the Aedes aegypti mosquito
By: Anisa Al-Oufiya
In collaboration with specialists from the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Municipalities and Water Resources, the pest control departments of Muscat Municipality continue its campaign to fight the aedes aegypti mosquito in Muscat govenorate.Ismail Al Rashdi who is head of pest control department in Muscat Municipality in Seeb said that both Muscat Municipality and the Ministry of Health work together to combat the Aedes aegypti mosquito. The joint programmes have been based on preset plans and some strategic studies to scan all sites in the wilayah of Seeb. Bousher directorate has also taken some measures to fight the mosquito. It carried out spraying campaigns covering all sites where the aedes aegypti could breed.
Influential community practices
Muscat Municipality informs that there are some community practices that provide a breeding ground for insects to breed. Practices like raising livestock in residential areas or storing foodstuff or another materials in unhealthy way. In addition to using untreated wastewater or sewage as an irrigation, or throwing waste in places not designated for such purpose. All such practices provide a good environment for pest to breed.
Environmental challenges
The process of controlling pest is not as easy as it sounds. There are some challenges that could hinder pest control specialists during their work, most prominently lack of contractors awareness of the potential health risks and legal penalties related to construction projects.
Some contractors fail to provide a healthy environment for their workers to live in, as they might not care of throwing waste in sealed garbage bins or making proper wastewater connections.
Legal aspect
Article (45) of chapter V of local order 1/2006 on the protection of public health pointed out that owners of properties are obliged to take measures and precautions to prevent breeding of rodents or spread of mosquitoes, flies and other insects in their properties.
Article (46) forbids owners of houses to raise animals or poultry and other birds in residential places, as well as article (50) which prohibits keeping test basins, sewage rooms, open or broken ventilation pipes.