The PMI AIRS Project
The PMI Africa Indoor Residual Spraying Project (AIRS) protects millions of people in Africa from malaria by spraying insecticide on the walls, ceilings, and other indoor resting places of mosquitoes that transmit malaria. Leading PMI’s indoor residual spraying efforts in Africa since 2011, the Project manages indoor residual spraying (IRS) operations and logistics in 12 countries where malaria is endemic and provides enhanced entomological monitoring in Angola, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia, and Nigeria. Spray operations is a highly complex logistical undertaking that requires meticulous planning at the national, district, and village levels. It entails conducting geographical reconnaissance to identify work sites, procuring insecticide and equipment, managing warehouses, and training thousands of local staff to spray homes and follow environmental and health guidelines. To ensure insecticide kills mosquitoes that carry the malaria parasite and reduces residents’ chances of getting bitten, PMI AIRS completes rigorous entomological monitoring that guides programmatic decisions. The Project carries out communications campaigns to educate community members about the benefits of IRS. Working with country governments, PMI AIRS ensures spraying does not harm people or the environment. Spray results data are carefully collected, audited, and measured against targets.
Technical Areas
- Spray Operations
- Entomological Monitoring
- Environmental Compliance
- Monitoring and Evaluation
- Information, Education, and Communication
A guiding principle of the project is to develop local capacity to lead IRS. In every country where AIRS works, the project is assessing the capacity of Ministries of Health and National Malaria Control Programs to implement IRS without foreign technical assistance. Stakeholders are using findings to identify opportunities to transition responsibilities from the project to country governments. In addition, the PMI AIRS Project has developed several tools and innovations such as mobile soak pits, supervision checklists and mobile environmental assessments to make IRS a more cost effective, environmentally-safe and sustainable malaria intervention.
The Project is funded by the USAID-led President’s Malaria Initiative and implemented by Abt Associates. The PMI AIRS Project’s period of performance is from September 2014 to September 2017.
Download the PMI AIRS information sheet.
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