malaria outbreak in Goromonzi

Goromonzi West.
According to reports 909 cases have been recorded so far.
The affected areas are Maiden of Svisva, Svisva 1 and 2 and Chabwino compound in Goromonzi West Constituency.
Councillor Miriam Chipunza yesterday said health facilities are too far from their area and they are appealing for mobile facilities to rescue them.
Clr Chipunza said the villagers were concerned that the outbreak could claim more victims before the necessary steps are taken to arrest it.
Dr Steven Karima, the district medical officer for Goromonzi, confirmed the outbreak.
“I can confirm that there is a malaria outbreak in Goromonzi and we have since responded to 909 cases.
“We have treated 846 patients and 178 of them were positive meaning they had malaria parasites,” he said.
Dr Karima said mobile clinics were visiting the area everyday.
“We have sent a proposal to the province so as to launch a full programme supplying treated nets, spraying as well as biolarvicide for prevention.”
Dr Kurima said Goromonzi used to be a malaria free zone but it shares borders with Mudzi, Shamva and Murehwa that are confirmed malaria zones.
“Villagers now fear that the malaria zone extending into their area would claim lives hence there is need for the responsible authorities to react immediately,” he said.
National malaria control manager in the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare, Dr Joseph Mberikunashe, also confirmed the outbreak in Mashonaland East.
“Yes there is malaria outbreak in Goromonzi, Mudzi, Mutoko and UMP and we have received the death cases but it is now under control since our team is now on the ground.
“Goromonzi was once a malaria free zone but zones change due the climate change and travelling,” he said.
Dr Mberikunashe added that 60 000 cases of malaria have been detected in the country since end of last year up to date.
Zimbabwe has a long history of malaria outbreaks because of its high altitude.
Areas above 1 500m such as Harare are usually malaria free, while areas below 900m are normally a high risk to malaria, particularly in the north of the altitude is between 900 – 1500m.
After HIV/Aids, malaria it is the biggest killer of children under five in Zimbabwe and pregnant women as well as newborns.
According to research, the main challenge to the spread of malaria is because there is no single way of preventing malaria and mosquitoes.
Malaria is increasingly becoming resistant to existing drugs.
Efforts have been made to introduce an effective vaccine and the most effective way to reduce malaria so far is prevention through use of insecticide-treated nets.