Online Reporter
Conrad Mupesa
Mashonaland West Bureau
MASHONALAND West has recorded 33 malaria-related deaths and more than 7 100 cumulative cases since the beginning of the year, prompting intensified interventions by the Ministry of Health and Child Care to curb the outbreak.
According to the latest provincial malaria situation report as of May 4, a total of 7 141 cases have been recorded, with three new deaths reported at Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital in the last 24 hours alone.
The province also recorded 66 new infections within the same period, with Hurungwe contributing the bulk of cases, followed by Makonde, Sanyati, Zvimba and Kariba.
The report also indicated that vulnerable groups, including children under five and pregnant women, remain affected.
Despite the rising figures, health authorities say the case fatality rate remains relatively low at 0,46 percent, while malaria incidence across districts is still below one case per 1 000 people, indicating that control measures are having an impact.
The Ministry of Health and Child Care has, however, scaled up a combination of preventive, treatment and awareness strategies across all seven districts in the province.
These include the distribution and pre-positioning of life-saving medicines such as artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) and artesunate injections, as well as rapid diagnostic test kits to ensure timely detection and treatment of cases.
Community-based surveillance has also been strengthened, with village health workers working closely with health facilities to detect and report cases early, while district teams are conducting targeted investigations, particularly in malaria elimination zones.
On the prevention front, authorities have intensified vector control measures, including the deployment of biolarvicides to destroy mosquito breeding sites and the distribution of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) to at-risk communities.
Indoor residual spraying has already been completed in Hurungwe, achieving 90 percent room coverage and protecting 88 percent of the population, while other districts such as Kariba and Makonde are rolling out mass ITN distribution campaigns.
Risk communication and community engagement have also been ramped up, with weekly radio awareness campaigns, roadshows, and village health education sessions being conducted to promote prevention and early treatment-seeking behaviour.
