The Sunday Mail
Vladimir Dube
TWENTY-NINE people succumbed to malaria from 15 400 cases recorded since the beginning of the year, it has been learnt.
Manicaland (3 325), Mashonaland East (1 885), Mashonaland Central (7 561) and Masvingo (568) were the most affected provinces, accounting for more than 92,2 percent of the recorded cases.
On Thursday, Zimbabwe will commemorate World Malaria Day (WMD), which will run under the theme
“Health Equity, Gender and Human Rights”.
In an interview with The Sunday Mail, Ministry of Health and Child Care malaria department social behaviour communications officer, Mrs Faith Manjoro, said preparations for the commemorations were at an advanced stage.
“The WMD commemoration awareness activities will include national and community radio discussions and malaria quiz,” she said.
“There will also be placement of malaria awareness information on the ministry’s website and social media platforms and a press statement.”
She added: “Manicaland, Mashonaland East and Central, and Masvingo are the most affected provinces, accounting for 92,2 percent of the burden.
“However, Mashonaland Central is the hardest hit province, contributing 49 percent of the national burden and 31 percent of the deaths.
“It is important to note that the cases recorded in Bulawayo and Harare are a combination of imported cases and referrals to the tertiary hospitals for complicated cases.”
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Government, she said, was working on a programme towards the elimination of malaria in several districts countrywide.
“Malaria is both preventable and curable, but resurgence is always a threat,” she said.
“To date 31 out of 63 districts in the country are implementing elimination activities.
“For the country to achieve malaria elimination, we need to continue strengthening our malaria activities with support of all stakeholders, including affected communities, as outlined in the ministry’s strategic documents.
“Continued funding through Government and supporting partners is key, even as cases in the country are declining.
“Regional and cross-border engagement is also important.”
Malaria symptoms
- Fever /hot body
- Headache
- Hot and cold spells (sweating, chills and shivering)
- Joint pains and general body weakness
- Nausea, vomiting and sometimes diarrhoea
Seek testing and treatment within 24 hours of symptom from nearest health facility or from the village health worker to prevent progression to severe disease that can lead to death.
Signs and symptoms of severe malaria
- very high temperature
- severe vomiting
- severe body weakness (unable to sit/stand)
- jaundice (yellow eyes)
- white palms (anaemia)
- passing very little Coca-Cola-coloured urine/not passing urine at alla
