By Eric Elezuo

The Pest control Association of Nigeria, has concluded arrangements to roll out drums in celebration of its 30th year of existence. A 30 years of delivering worthy services and keeping pest and diseases at bay.

This was made known Wednesday when the Executive committee of the Association engaged the press in a parley at the NUT Pavilion, Alausa, Lagos.

In his address, the President of the Association, Mr. Kunle Williams, who was flanked by the Vice President 2, Mr. James Erodu; General Secretary, Niyi Oriade and Asst. General Secretary, Oluleye Ayodeji, noted that PECAN has come a long way in pioneering the control of pest in Nigeria, and is taking its gains a little further to join in the control of spread of malaria.

L-R: VP 2, James Erondu, PECAN President, Mr Kunle Williams, General Secretary, Niyi Oriade and Asst. General Secretary, Oluleye Ayodeji

Mr Williams noted that the 30th anniversary celebrations, billed to hold on November 27, 2019 at the Providence Hotel by Mantis, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos, will witness a pot pourri of activities including conferment of awards to deserving citizens, investiture of the National President, induction of Malaria Vector Partners and most importantly the launch of a N50 million Mosquito Control Programme in Rural Areas. The theme of the event is Malaria Control Through Effective Vector Management.

Speaking on the strategies employed to combat malaria. Mr Williams stressed that earlier in April during the World Malaria Day, PECAN in conjunction with Rotary International and Vanguard Newspapers embarked on malaria control in the Kirikiri Community, and all the canals were sprayed including the Kirikiri Prisons, adding that with their experience over the years, fund and involvement of more private sector participation, achieving their aim will be so easy.

“What we intend to do, which explains why we are raising the fund, is to compliment government’s efforts on Indoor Residual Spray (IRS) so we can go to the rural areas and perform the act for those who cannot afford it. This entails the treatment of inner walls of hostels or any habitations so that any mosquito that perches on it, dies before it could reach its host. That’s the primary function of the IRS,” he said.

He admitted that ‘Lagos State government and quite a number of state governments’ have been doing it already, and PECAN is coming in to compliment the effort. In this regard, “the private sector at this time is being galvanised in order to come out and assist, especially those in the rural areas, who may not be able to afford simple insecticide or the services of pest control operators.

“We are trying to get the fund together, so that in a year, we can adopt communities and work with the local authorities so that we don’t have to disturb the government; go to those areas and bring mosquito infestation there down. This will help in bringing malaria down,” Mr. Williams noted.

Williams called on all the ministries of health in all the states of the federation to partner with PECAN so as to achieve a safe way of eradicating vectors. He noted that while there are rules and regulations guiding the use of pesticides and others, the problem has remained control and abuse.

PECAN is a group of professionals engaged in pest and rodent control businesses in Nigeria, and membership is opened to individuals and businesses in this field, no matter how small or large, and cuts across length and breadth of Nigeria.

Among PECAN’s objectives are assuring safety standards educational, campaigns on pests management and checking the activities of quacks.

The November 27 event is expected to draw together the who is who in environmental related business, captains of industries and notable dignitaries.