AN urgent call for intervention has been made by public representatives following claims of an outbreak of mosquito infestation in neighbourhoods across Bahrain.
The menace has been reported mostly in coastal regions, reclaimed land and farming areas in Buhair Valley, Arad, Galali, Tubli, Al Luzi, Malkiya and Dar Kulaib, as temperatures rise after a brief spell of cold weather.
Capital Trustees Board chairman Saleh Tarradah called on the Health Ministry to take quick action to protect the health of citizens and residents.
“We receive complaints every day about mosquito infestation, which peaks after heavy rainfall, during the onset of summer and when temperatures sour in July and August,” he said.
MPs and members of Bahrain’s three municipal councils have also reported complaints from citizens in their areas.
“The mosquito menace has been persisting for years which means we need to rethink the methods being used to tackle the peril,” Mr Tarradah pointed out. “We are in contact with the ministry and more efforts are being taken to eradicate breeding grounds.”
The GDN earlier reported that neighbourhoods across Bahrain were sprayed with pesticides as part of efforts to eradicate mosquito infestations during the Covid-19 pandemic. At the time the Health Ministry dispatched a team of 25 pest control specialists, including four supervisors, to areas where large pools of stagnant rainwater had been witnessed.
Southern Municipal Council chairman Abdulla Abdullatif stressed the need for ‘advanced’ solutions and equipment, claiming that Health Ministry officials were being called in every month to spray infested areas in Buhair.
“People have sealed their doors and windows in my area Buhair to stop mosquitoes from entering their rooms,” he said.
“Yet, they are bitten or fall victim to malaria or other illnesses as mosquitoes find their way in through the tiniest of holes.
“Ramadan is approaching and people want to eat outdoors or have Quran gatherings in their backyard in a happy atmosphere and not go to health centres or hospitals. We need radical solutions.”
Muharraq Municipal Council chairman Abdulaziz Al Naar said higher temperatures were ideal for mosquitoes to breed.
“We shouldn’t be waiting until August when the mosquito numbers are high to take action, by then people would have fallen sick many times over,” he said.
“Mosquitoes breed on water surfaces and what we need are engineering solutions or proper municipal intervention.
“Mosquitoes and other insects are present in large numbers in Galali, Arad, Malkiya or Dar Kulaib, which have seen vast reclamation. Farming areas also need to be sprayed, while ensuring greenery is not polluted.”
Northern Municipal Council vice-chairwoman Zaina Jassim called for the adoption of hi-tech methods to combat the menace.
“We are still living in the 1980s when spraying was a popular solution,” she said.
“I believe today there are advanced methods.
“There are also reports that pesticides are harmful and could kill us faster than mosquitoes.”
Parliament public utilities and environment affairs committee chairman Bader Al Tamimi urged authorities to come up with ‘long-term solutions’ to tackle the peril rather than a scattergun approach.
“In Buhair Valley, the water comes from the ground; in Tubli Bay, the blocked water channels with sewage residue lead to water collection; Al Luzi Lake has been confined with no sea access with the stagnant water becoming a place for mosquitoes to breed,” he said.
“The issue is being treated on the surface, not at the core; long-term solutions based on experiences across the world have to be introduced.”
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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