The government says it is implementing Malaria control measures across the country at a time when heavy rains continue to pound.
Malaria remains one of the killer diseases in Zimbabwe and according to the Zimbabwe Annual 2019 Report by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the country two years ago recorded 310 000 cases up from 260 000 in 2018.
Malaria heavily burdened districts in Zimbabwe include Binga, Gokwe North, Beitbridge, Hwange, Mbire, Rushinga, Mudzi, Nyanga, Mutasa and Chimanimani.
Most of the Malaria-related deaths last year were attributed to the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic which interfered with the health-seeking behaviour of citizens due to lockdown restrictions.
Responding to a question by Beitbridge East legislator, Albert Nguluvhe, on the government’s policy on Malaria in Parliament Wednesday, Health and Child Care Deputy Minister, Dr John Mangwiro, said they were doing all they could to ensure citizens are protected from the disease.
“We know definitely with these heavy rains that Malaria is quite rampant and is all over,” said Dr Mangwiro.
“The government policy is; we continue to make sure that we keep our citizens safe by encouraging them and making sure that pools of water do not spread this disease. As the government, we continue to make sure that we provide medication for those who have contracted Malaria.”
He explained further: “We are sticking to prevention and treatment of the acutely sick by giving them what they require and this time we are actually doubling the effort because we know that Malaria is much more rampant because of the large amounts of rain that we have received. We are also encouraging that we continue with the awareness programmes that have always been there.”
Dr Mangwiro encouraged Members of Parliament (MPs) to continue spreading the word on the dangers of Malaria, prevention and treatment as well as urging citizens to visit hospitals early for treatment.
“Most of the medicine is well supplied in the hospitals and everywhere,” he said.
“So the policy is straightforward. We need to continue fighting Malaria at a high scale particularly that this is a rainy season.”
