PMI VectorLink Rwanda

Objectives

The project’s primary objective is to reach a minimum spray coverage of 85% of the eligible structures found in each district by implementing high-quality IRS operations and protecting approximately 1,340,280 residents. The project will implement Government of Rwanda, World Health Organization (WHO) and PMI VectorLink guidelines on prevention of COVID-19 before and during implementation of IRS to ensure the safest possible conditions for the implementing teams and the communities.

In addition to spraying, the project will carry out the following activities:

• Strengthen capacity at the national, regional, district, and local levels to manage IRS operations, including planning, spraying, resource allocation, monitoring and evaluation (M&E), and entomological monitoring and quality controls.
• Support ITN durability monitoring of dual active ingredient (Interceptor® G2), piperonyl butoxide (PermaNet® 3.0), and standard (Yahe®, Olyset®) nets implemented by the Government of Rwanda.
• Support capacity strengthening of the MOPDD entomology lab, including the procurement of reagents and supplies for the entomology laboratory and the malaria Technical Working Group.
• Technical support to the entomology laboratory.
• Conduct training with a focus on IRS supervision and spray techniques to improve the overall quality of spraying.
• Conduct regular M&E of project activities to ensure alignment with set targets and objectives.
• Mainstream gender equality and female empowerment by ensuring women’s equitable participation across project activities, such as spray operations, supervision, community mobilization, entomology, and spray planning.
• Coordinate community mobilization activities in collaboration with stakeholders to raise awareness of IRS and to encourage beneficiary and stakeholder ownership. The project will recruit the head of the village and the in-charge of security to sensitize the community in their villages during spraying. All community mobilization activities will follow PMI VectorLink COVID-19 mitigation measures.
• Carry out a logistics assessment in all PMI-funded IRS districts, and arrange all procurement, shipping, delivery, and storage of IRS commodities.
• Strengthen the IRS logistics and warehousing system through enhanced training, supervision, and digitalization of insecticide tracking.
• Conduct wall bioassay, vector density monitoring, and behavioral studies and support the MOPDD in monitoring insecticide resistance.
• Collaborate with other implementing partners to implement IRS in 14 districts (11 supported by Government of Rwanda/The Global Fund and 3 supported by PMI VectorLink Rwanda) to complement each other’s work and avoid duplication of efforts. Additionally, VectorLink Rwanda will share training curricula, support data management and reporting, and supervision of IRS activities.
• Ensure safe and correct insecticide application, thus minimizing human and environmental exposure to IRS insecticides, in compliance with the Pesticide Evaluation Report and Safer Use Action Plan and Supplemental Environmental Assessment (SEA).