Gift Mashoko

Government is fighting malaria in Cyclone Idai hit areas where destruction of homes and subsequent displacement of the affected population into temporary shelters has left people at risk of malaria, a Cabinet Minister has said.

The Minister of Health and Child Care Obadiah Moyo said this whilst commemorating the World Malaria Day yesterday in Harare, running under the theme, “Zero Malaria Starts with Me.”

Speaking on behalf of Minister of Health and Child Care, at a press conference yesterday, Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health Gibson Mhlanga highlighted that Cyclone Idai hit areas face a high risk of malaria cases.

“Despite achievements there were some challenges. This was further worsened by the torrential rainfall from the 15th to the 17th of March 2019 caused by Cyclone Idai which caused flooding, destruction of homes and subsequent displacement of the affected population into temporary shelters, which left the people at risk of malaria.

 “The country continues to protect the population at risk of malaria through the deployment of targeted Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) and Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLIN). The country uses a combination of bed-net distribution strategies that include mass distribution campaigns and continuous distribution channels. The country has managed to maintain universal access to long lasting nets,” he said.

Mhlanga also said that malaria trends in the country had generally declined.

“Generally trends in the country continue to decline. Rapid decline has been witnessed from the central parts of the country extending to the south-western regions. This decline has seen the country implement pre-elimination activities in 7 districts in 2012 and by 2018 the districts had increased to 28,” he said.

Zimbabwe joined the rest of the world in commemorating World Malaria Day, which is commemorated on 25 April annually as it is working hard to prevent malaria in Cyclone Idai hit areas.