GOVERNMENT has called on communities to practically get involved in the fight against malaria by implementing various interventions plotted by health care custodians.
The Ministry of Health is urging communities to step up efforts to combat a rising tide of malaria cases.
This call comes amid a concerning rise in malaria infections.
Malaria cases surged by 37 percent in 2023 compared to 2022, with deaths rising by 19 percent.
Health Minister Sylvia Masebo appealed for community participation in implementing interventions alongside government efforts.
“Malaria remains a major public health problem in Zambia, accounting over 30 percent of the country’s disease burden and a significant cause of disease and deaths with the most affected sub population being pregnant women and children under the age of five years.”
“Just last year, 2023 we recorded a 37 percent increase of malaria cases from 8.1 million from 2022 to 11.1 million in 2023. In the same period, we recorded a 19 percent increase of malaria deaths from 1,343 deaths in 2023 to 1,602 to 2023.” Masebo tabulated.
She added that 30,400 people in Zambia, 18 percent and 1 percent of which are children and pregnant women respectively, get infected by the treatable and curable disease each year while 4 people die from it.
Masebo stressed the importance of using insecticide-treated mosquito nets which Government provided and distributed national wide.
“The ministry of health, working through the national malaria elimination center has completed the distribution of more than 11.6 million insecticide treated mosquito nets across the country” Masebo said.
“This translates into the protection of approximately 23.2 million people just with this intervention. However, I must emphasise that having or owing a mosquito net is one thing, the game changer is the actual use of the mosquito nets.”
The government expressed commitment to malaria elimination, focusing resources on vulnerable areas and promoting preventive measures.
Masebo said her ministry will prioitise addressing gender disparities, improving pregnancy related prevention and promoting inclusive health care systems.
“Other key interventions include, health promotion to increase uptake and correct use of malaria interventions, surveillance to monitor progress against our targets and research to guide programme implementation,” added Masebo.
By Elesani Phiri
Kalemba April 26, 2024
