adminSince the onset of this year’s malaria season which started last November and ends this month, Matabeleland North has been recording about 80 cases a week against 200 in 2010.
In an interview last week, Matabeleland North provincial epidemiology and disease control officer in the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare Dr Efison Dhodho said the province was doing well in fighting malaria.
“Since today (last Thursday) is World Malaria Day, we are confident that the situation has improved in our malaria-prone province. Malaria incidents have dropped to 2,5 percent compared to more than 10 percent last year,” said Dr Dhodho.
He said the province had only recorded three deaths in the first quarter of 2012.
“We had only three malaria-related deaths since the beginning of this year compared to 30 deaths we had in 2010 during the same period. This shows that there is progress in terms of controlling the disease in our malaria-prone province,” said Dr Dhodho.
He said there would be commemorations to mark World Malaria day.
“We are happy that the ministry has engaged community workers and this helps improve service delivery in most of our areas. Our province is very big and people there live far from each other meaning they still do not have easy access to health facilities like hospitals and clinics. We have to remember that the decrease in our malaria cases does not mean we have to relax because the fight goes on,” he said.
The Ministry of Health and Child Welfare recently embarked on a national Malaria Indicator Survey (MIS) in a bid to measure the country’s progress towards meeting the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) in combating the disease.
The survey is characterised by day-to-day research that will show areas that are more burdened by malaria.
Dr Dhodho said after the data for all the 10 provinces had been analysed, a national report would be released and it would show where the country stands in terms of meeting the MDGs by 2015.
He said the survey would also measure household ownership of insecticide-treated mosquito nets and their use, especially by children under five years of age and pregnant women.
Malaria has seasonal transmission patterns in the province and it follows rainfall patterns.
According to the malaria guidelines in Zimbabwe, Coartermether is the first line drug in malaria treatment while Chloroquine is being withdrawn and used for other diseases.
Malaria treatment is free of charge in Zimbabwe, though the disease remains a threat to thousands.
The theme for World Malaria Day 2012 – Sustain Gains, Save Lives: Invest in Malaria –
Sustaining malaria control efforts is an investment in development. Continued investment in malaria control now will propel malaria-prone countries along the path to achieving the 2015 Millennium Development Goals, especially those relating to improving child survival and maternal health, eradicating extreme poverty and expanding access to education.
Online Reporter