Anti-mosquito campaign in Maputo province.

Mosquito spraying is due to begin in Maputo province on 1 September to stem the spread of the malaria-carrying insect before the rainy season later this year. Just over 900 people will spray at-risk areas in a house-to-house campaign. First they must undergo training from 7-28 August; this will include practice spraying in the districts of Manhia, Magude, Matutuine and the city of Matola (7 August), Namaacha and Marracuene (11 August) and the districts of Boane and Moamba (20 August). The campaign should be completed by the start of the rainy season in late November or early December.

Malaria remains one of the leading causes of illness and death in Mozambique, which saw just under six million reported cases out of a population of almost 20 million people and 4,209 malaria deaths in 2005, according to the national health authorities. The risk of exposure increases during the rainy season when the malaria-carrying mosquito is more likely to breed.