ZIMBABWE this year decentralised World Malaria Day commemorations to the country’s eight rural provinces in order to raise awareness and encourage behaviour-change of the rural populace in the quest to end malaria.
This is in line with this year’s theme ‘End Malaria for Good’ which provides a common platform for countries to showcase their successes in malaria control and unify diverse initiatives in the changing global context.
Malaria-endemic countries have made incredible gains in the fight against malaria in the last decade, but sustaining them will take extra efforts until malaria is eliminated worldwide.
While efforts to prevent, diagnose and treat malaria have gained momentum over the past years, an annual shortfall in funding threatens progress, particularly across Africa where high-burden countries are facing critical funding gaps.
In Zimbabwe, over half of the population is at risk from malaria.
Transmission is generally seasonal, starting from around November to the end of May and the peak period is between March and May.
Malaria accounts for between 30 to 50 percent of out-patients in the moderate-to-high transmission districts, especially during the peak transmission period.
In his speech on World Malaria Day (April 25), Health and Child Care Minister Dr David Parirenyatwa said the country had made strides in the reduction of malaria.
“We have also seen the burden of the disease rapidly reducing from the central parts of the country, with most of the burden remaining in the border districts,” he said.
“Malaria has a direct impact on a country’s human resources.
“Not only does it result in loss of life and loss of productivity due to illness and premature death, it also affects children’s school attendance and social development through both absenteeism and permanent neurological damages associated with severe episodes of the disease.”
Dr Parirenyatwa said the scientific tools and strategies to fight malaria which Zimbabwe used had proved to be effective in the reduction of malaria.
Some of the tools include Vector Control (indoor residual spraying, use of long-lasting insecticidal nets, larviciding, environmental manipulation and use of repellents), prompt diagnosis with rapid diagnostic test kits and microscopy and treatment of confirmed cases with effective medicines.
Early detection, containment and prevention of epidemics, strengthening of local capacities in basic operational research for development of interventions, advocacy, social mobilisation and programme communication to enhance involvement and participation of communities have also helped in efforts to combat malaria.
Dr Parirenyatwa said the above mentioned interventions had reduced the malaria scourge in Zimbabwe by 79 percent.
“As a result of all these interventions, I am happy to announce that Zimbabwe has made extraordinary progress in the fight against malaria,” he said.
“Malaria incidences declined by 79 percent from 136/1000 population in 2000 to 29/1000 population in 2015, surpassing the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) targets of 75 percent.
“Mortality declined by 57 percent from 1069 deaths in 2003 to 462 deaths in 2015.
“This achievement will go a long way in positioning our country for the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
“Testing rates of suspected malaria cases with Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) and microscopy currently stands at 99 percent.
“Malaria diagnostic commodities and malaria medicines are available at community level through village health workers to ensure universal access to effective treatment.”
Dr Parirenyatwa said Zimbabwe continues to collaborate with neighbouring countries on malaria prevention and control with an aim of harmonising strategies and malaria messages and synchronising implementation through regional collaboration and commitment.
He said the Southern African Development Community (SADC) got support from the Global Fund through the successful Elimination 8 (E8) Global Fund Grant.
And, this has guaranteed the funds for addressing cross-border collaboration activities.
However, despite these successes, there remain some challenges which have a bearing on the drive to eliminate malaria in Zimbabwe.
These include the re-emergence of malaria vectors (Anopheles funestus) that are resistant to Pyrethroids cheaper IRS chemicals.
This has seen the country introducing Organophosphates which are more effective, but very expensive and mobile communities that move to-and-from areas with different malaria endemicity for socio-economic reasons such as cross-border traders, artisanal miners, long distance truck drivers.
Malaria is number six among the top-killer diseases in the country.
The other five are HIV and AIDS, stroke, influenza and pneumonia, coronary heart disease and tuberculosis.