A vice mayor rallies her community to support indoor residual spray campaigns
The difference from 2018 to 2023 is outstanding. People are prepared ahead of time for the campaign and go on with their days as usual while the [insecticide] spraying is conducted.”
– Juliet Murakatete, Vice Mayor, Nyagatare district, Rwanda
Originally a teacher, Juliet Murakatete became the vice mayor of Rwanda’s Nyagatare district in 2018. In her role, she is in charge of social affairs, covering education, health, and social development. Having suffered from a case of severe malaria, Juliet knows first-hand the terrible effects of the illness. Since becoming vice mayor, she has been committed to educating her constituents and protecting her community from malaria by having them learn about the benefits of having insecticide sprayed in their homes (called indoor residual spraying) and supporting the campaigns.
Juliet’s outreach efforts include involving local leaders, community health workers, religious groups, and others. After five consecutive years of indoor residual spraying, she sees that awareness of the benefits of the spraying has increased. Homeowners are now prepared for the spraying ahead of time, and household members who missed visits by spray teams now reach out to request the service. “My hope for the future in terms of malaria control is that with these measures and the good professionals on our team, we can end malaria,” says Juliet.
The PMI Evolve Project is working across 20 countries in sub-Saharan Africa as well as Cambodia to strengthen the capacity of national malaria programs to plan, implement, and monitor safe and effective malaria vector control programs. In Rwanda, the spray campaign in 2023 protected more than 1.3 million people, including 18,000 pregnant women and 182,400 children under age five.
Cover photo: Nyagatare District Vice Mayor Juliet Murakatete. Photo Credit: Juliet Murakatete