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From Daisy Jeremani recently in Zimuto, Masvingo
The Ministry of Health and Child Care on Thursday distributed more than 4,000 treated mosquito nets at Bawa and Gurajena business centres, in Masvingo’s Zimuto district as part of government efforts to combat malaria. The illness accounts for between 30-50 percent of visits to the outpatients departments in the country’s clinics and hospitals in the high-risk areas.
According to an environmental health technician in the ministry, Nimrod Vagere, they were working in partnership with PSI, in the programme which will cover the 35 wards in the district.
He said the distribution in Bawa and Gurajena, both in Chief Nemarundwi’s area ran simultaneously, with Bawa receiving 1,581 nets, while Gurajena received 2,562.
Unlike before 2010, nets in Zimbabwe were targeted at pregnant women and children below 5 years, but the country through its need to attain the target of universal coverage of long lasting insecticidal nets, has been distributing to all family members.
He said even though the malaria parasite hibernates in winter and transmits actively in warm weather, the ministry emphasises more on prevention.
“Even though we are past the malaria peak time, the ministry emphasises more on prevention,” he said.
The ministry officials, together with village health workers also took time to teach people how to use and store the mosquito nets.
“The nets are also supposed to be aired outside for 24 hours to prevent skin reactions. People should also adhere to what we would have to told them for the effectiveness of the nets,” said Vagere.
He said they were also giving out log-in cards that villagers would take home so that when the ministry comes back with other programmes like indoor and outdoor residual spraying they would know which other interventions their families or area needed.
According to a ministry of health’s weekly report on epidemic prone diseases deaths and public events released in mid June at least 14,087 malaria cases and 20 deaths were reported in week 22 and of the 2,345 cases reported, there were 11 deaths of children under five years.
The majority of deaths were reported in Centenary, Rushinga, Mbire, Mazowe and Guruve districts, all in Mashonaland Central province.
The provinces which reported the highest number of malaria cases were Manicaland with 4,169 and Mashonaland Central which recorded 3,908.
This year’s cumulative figure for malaria cases was 425,444.
The high amount of rain received this year also meant more breeding places for mosquitoes which carry malaria. Zimbabwe received above average rainfall this season and flash floods in some areas created fertile breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
Online Reporter