PROBLEM: A new study conducted by scientists at the Nigeria Institute of Medical Research Yaba, Lagos revealed that Mosquitoes in 18 states of Nigeria have developed resistance to insecticide nets. Insecticide resistances were detected in Jigawa, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara. Benue, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau, Anambra, Enugu, Rivers, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and oyo.
IMPLICATION: This means that the eradication of malaria in Nigeria is under major threat (because insecticidal products; nets, spray and coils are the major means of mosquito prevention in Nigeria)
SOURCE: 1. Over saturation of mosquito nets (Nigeria has distributed over 182 million long-lasting insecticide-treated nets since 2003 till dates: yet, how many households sleeps under mosquito nets in Nigeria) 2. Most of the insecticide products used in malaria control is also being used in agriculture sector in Nigeria (mosquito nets: fish ponds, mosquito sprays and coil: poultry). It means some mosquito nests distributed are being used by fishes and not humans.
SOLUTION: There is a need to look for alternative and more promising mosquito control measures. Have you heard about “Genetic Modification/Engineering, Biotechnology, Recombinant DNA Technology? Through genetic modification, you can produce “Genetically Modified Mosquito” for malaria control?
HOW DOES IT WORK: Larva eggs of the female anopheles mosquito (Plasmodium falciparum) that transmit malaria is injected with DNA that contains lethal genes, the genetically modified males from the batch of eggs is then released to the environment so they can mate with wild females (Males don’t bite, so releasing only males is a way to make so releasing only males is a way to make sure the release of these insects doesn’t contribute to the spread of disease. The offspring of these lab-tweaked males and wild females, having inherited the altered DNA, cannot survive to adulthood.
THE CONTROVERSIES: The public fears genetic engineering. Nearly all politicians don’t understand it. Actually, i don’t think the issue is neither economic nor political; it is ignorance, distrust, fear of the unknown, fear of prior efforts to use biology to combat pests which went sour. Chemical spray may be familiar, but it is a blunderbuss. Old technology is hard to aim, often misfires, and is hard to maintain. Genetic engineering of nasty insect-pests is a rifle, very precise with low risk to the user.
Let me conclude by saying it is high time Nigeria imbibe the use of modern biotechnology such as genetic modification to solve its several problems; Genetically Modified Foods will effectively combat Food insecurity, GM Vaccines/drugs will drastically reduce several diseases and Genetically Modified Mosquitoes may be “our best hope” for fighting malaria.
SAY YES TO GENETIC MODIFICATION/ENGINEERIN
Taiwo Michael Oluwambe
Convener: Modern Biotechnology for Sustainability
