ABSTRACT
Man has always been aware of the nuisance of blood sucking arthropods and ectoparasites, and delousing was a common practice in most ancient cultural systems. In 2000 B.C. the Chinese already used pyrethrum powder against ectoparasites. Sulphur treatments for scabies have been known for several centuries in European pharmacopoeia. Vector control operations exhibit varying degrees of complexity. For example measures like weekly cleaning of drinking water containers for Aedes aegypti control require limited technical skills, whereas weekly treatment of rivers for onchocerciasis vector control requires the use of helicopters over very large areas. All community participation relies on knowledge of the role of the vector and also of the disease which it transmits, in order to generate understanding within the population of the objectives of the proposed activities. Health education, which should take into account the cultural background of the population, is the essential tool for dissemination of this knowledge.
