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The Herald, 15 November 1980
MALARIA is a dreadful killer. Last year it was estimated that a million people, mostly children, would die of the disease in Africa.
Malaria was reported to be making an alarming resurgence following a breakdown in control measures in many countries and the emergence of mosquitoes which were resistant to insecticides.
In Zimbabwe, health authorities established a fine record years ago for their pioneering work in the control of malaria and in the practical application of these measures.
The war and the movement of people had its effect and towards the end of the last rainy season, there were warnings that we were suffering the worst malaria outbreak for many years.
Now a fresh warning has been given that malaria is expected to be severe during the coming rains.
Anti-malaria drugs are highly effective. Townspeople going into the country should ensure they use them.
LESSONS FOR TODAY
April 25 is World Malaria Day and the theme for the day is “Zero malaria starts with me/draw the line against malaria”.
Malaria is one of the major public health problems in Zimbabwe.
To date, there hasn’t been a malaria vaccine, but researchers in Burkina Faso and from the University of Oxford, reported at the weekend that “a malaria vaccine that has achieved efficacy of 77 percent in children in the West African country of Burkina Faso becomes the first to meet the WHO’s Malaria Vaccine Technology Roadmap target of 75 percent.”
As Zimbabwe continues to battle with the containment of the Covid-19 pandemic, it also faces a surge in malaria cases. The symptoms of the two are almost similar such that one can be mistaken for the other.
Zimbabwe has made significant progress towards the elimination of malaria.
Online Reporter