Moffat Mungazi
Tendai Gukutikwa
Health Reporter
TWO pregnant women succumbed to malaria in Mutare after seeking medical attention too late, The Manica Post has learnt.
Mutare District health promotions officer, Mrs Sophia Nezandonyi said the tragic deaths were recorded last month.
In an interview on Wednesday, Mrs Nezandonyi revealed that the two pregnant women, one from Fern Valley and the other from Dangamvura, developed severe complications after contracting malaria, which were exacerbated by their delay in seeking medical attention.
“Regrettably, two lives were lost to malaria since the start of the year, with both deaths occurring in Mutare city. We have recorded a number of cases in Fern Valley and Dangamvura where pregnant women contracted malaria, but delayed seeking medical attention. Sadly, two of them passed away,” she said.
Mrs Nezandonyi said while Mutare’s rural areas have traditionally been malaria hotspots, the disease is increasingly encroaching into urban areas.
“Our malaria hotspot areas are situated in rural parts of Mutare, specifically in Odzi, Burma Valley, Marange, Mount Zuma, and Chitakatira. However, according to our weekly reports, Chitakatira has consistently remained a hotspot. Notably, Burma Valley, which was our primary hotspot for years, has demonstrated significant improvement.
“Previously, it recorded over 1 000 cases per week, but now we occasionally record no cases or just seven cases weekly. This suggests that the community in Burma Valley is working collaboratively to prevent malaria. However, we have observed an increase in cases within the city, resulting in the reported deaths,” she said.
Mrs Nezandonyi attributed some malaria cases to cross-border movements between Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
“Most cases in hotspot areas are imported from Mozambique due to the proximity of the border. Some Mozambican nationals visit Zimbabwe to access healthcare services at nearby clinics. It is crucial to remember that malaria can be treated and prevented, yet people continue to die from it due to delayed medical attention,” she said.
Mrs Nezandonyi said certain groups are more susceptible to severe malaria, including pregnant women, children under five, the elderly, and individuals travelling through malaria-prone areas.
“Malaria symptoms include headaches, chills, and fever. If you experience these symptoms, please seek immediate medical attention at the nearest clinic or village health worker for testing and treatment. Untreated malaria can induce early labour, cause miscarriage, or even lead to maternal death in pregnant mothers,” she said.
The Ministry of Health and Child Care has been conducting prevention efforts, including Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS), which is carried out annually before the rainy season.
“IRS is provided free of charge in 27 out of 36 wards in Mutare District, as these areas are viewed as malaria breeding grounds. This service is usually available from September to November. For those seeking additional protection, individuals can purchase their own IRS chemicals, but must consult the ministry’s environmental health officers to obtain the correct chemicals and trained personnel for spraying,” said Mrs Nezandonyi.
She stressed that untrained individuals should not conduct spraying as incorrect practices can lead to mosquito resistance.
“The environmental health office will supply the correct personnel and guide you on the right chemicals to use. This ensures that mosquitoes do not build resistance, which will make future prevention less effective,” she said.
In addition to spraying, Mrs Nezandonyi urged residents to use mosquito nets when sleeping, close windows early in the evening, wear long-sleeved clothing, and invest in mosquito repellents.
She also stressed on the importance of environmental management to prevent mosquito breeding.
“People who harvest rainwater should keep their containers tightly closed to prevent them from becoming breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Any stagnant water around homes, like in old tires, buckets, or drains, should be cleared out regularly,” she said.
Mrs Nezandonyi encouraged the community to co-operate to combat malaria and prevent more deaths.
She also urged people to take symptoms seriously and seek medical help promptly.
“We need everyone to play their part. Prevention starts at home, and early diagnosis saves lives. Let us not lose more lives to a preventable and treatable disease,” she said.
Online Reporter