Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS)

It is a proven and highly effective malaria control measure that offers community protection when at least 80 percent of houses in a targeted area are sprayed.

PMI supports training spray teams; procuring insecticide and equipment; developing and evaluating spraying activities; educating residents about the benefits of spraying; and conducting environmental assessments to ensure safe and effective use of insecticides, PMI also supports research and analyses to track trends, for example, on insecticide resistance and costing. Insecticide resistance is currently one of the greatest challenges to malaria prevention programs but rotating between classes of insecticide can help mitigate this problem.

To support overarching PMI issues, USAID engaged in a Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) for insecticide-treated materials and integrated vector management, including IRS. The PEA is used to guide the follow-up country-specific Supplemental Environmental Assessments, which include “safer use action plans” in any country where support includes the use of pesticides. USAID and PMI policies and procedures for improving the safe and judicious use of pesticides are closely aligned with international standards and regulations.