Fears mount over malaria resurgence

Domestic malaria cases have escalated, sparking fears of a resurgence of the deadly disease in areas where it was formerly brought to manageable levels.Renowned malariologist Dr Richard Kamwi - who also serves as the SADC malaria elimination initiative (E8) ambassador - said there are even signs of malaria resurgence in countries where the disease was formerly completely eliminated.E8 is a coalition of eight countries - Namibia, Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe - working across national borders to eliminate malaria in the sub-region by 2030.Recently, the health ministry announced that Namibia has recorded a staggering 12 286 malaria cases and 28 malaria-related deaths, with the northern regions being hit the hardest. “We have seen that health authorities have deviated from the formula that worked well many years ago where we targeted 90% indoor insecticidal residual spray [IRS] coverage on an annual basis. Today, we see they came up with selective vector control. We have also seen that this spraying is not done where there are no suspected malaria cases. This strategy is a joke, if you ask me,” Kamwi told Namibian Sun yesterday regarding the escalating malaria cases countrywide.He warned: “If the predicted heavy rainfalls are anything to go by, we are bound to witness another malaria pandemic if we do not change our approach”.He blamed the sudden resurgence of malaria on the reluctance of coalition partners to contribute financially to the E8 programme, which has for years depended on support from Global Fund. The former health minister said countries had previously committed to contribute US$2 million (about N$34 million) annually to fund the operations of the E8 secretariat, but nothing has been forthcoming recently.He cautioned that, should the E8 programme come to a premature end, it will deprive member states of access to malaria experts and research interventions.Worrying numbersDuring a recent World Malaria Day commemorative event, health minister Dr Kalumbi Shangula identified the Zambezi, Ohangwena, Kavango East, Kavango West and Oshikoto regions as the epicentres of the disease. Each region reported over 1 000 cases this year, with Kavango East alone recording 3 300 cases.Kavango East’s Andara district recorded 2 402 cases, Nyangana 494 and Rundu 415, according to the region’s chief medical officer Dr Frans Enkono Indongo.While acknowledging progress, Indongo expressed concern over some communities’ resistance to cooperating with malaria prevention initiatives, particularly the IRS programme.“The IRS coverage for the most recent spraying reached 84%, just 1% short of the World Health Organisation’s target,” he said, attributing this shortfall to households refusing to participate - but praising most communities for supporting the efforts.Namibian Sun has this year, on several occasions, reported on the increasing malaria numbers in the northern regions. By May, 630 people had been treated in hospitals across Namibia, with 15 succumbing to the disease. These numbers are a stark contrast to the previous year, when only 287 hospital admissions and six deaths were reported.Shangula raised the alarm at the commemoration of World Health Day in Rundu, stating that from January to March, Namibia had reported 6 147 cases. “The number of hospitalised cases and deaths has more than doubled compared to last year. This is a source of concern, and we must do more to reduce these figures,” he said.Regional responseAt the beginning of the year, the Faith Leader Advocacy for Malaria Elimination (FLAME), a coalition of religious leaders, also raised concerns about the high rate of malaria cases in Zambezi. This region, in particular, struggles to control the disease, with 6 855 cases and six deaths recorded from last year into early 2024.Then acting Zambezi health director Yolanda Lisho reiterated the gravity of the situation, while Oshikoto regional health director Joshua Nghipangelwa called on community members to seek early treatment after his region reported 256 cases in just seven weeks. “The regional crisis response team and district teams are actively responding to the outbreak, conducting investigations and educating communities about the risks,” he said at the time.But there is a silver lining. The Khorixas health district in the Kunene Region has made significant strides in reducing malaria cases and was recently awarded the Simon Kunene Award for its continued success. Named after the esteemed epidemiologist from Eswatini, the prize recognised the district’s efforts in maintaining low malaria cases for three consecutive years. The award came with a US$10 000 (N$180 000) cheque from the E8 secretariat.nikanor@erongo.com.na

Fears mount over malaria resurgence

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Namibian Sun 2024-11-22

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Fears mount over malaria resurgence

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Namibian Sun 2024-11-22

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