Wezi Tjaronda
3 May 2004
Windhoek — MALARIA, the leading cause of death in five regions in the country, has claimed the lives of 467 people since January this year. The figure has risen, compared to last year when 454 people died during the same period.
So far 140 411 malaria cases have been reported countrywide, which is less than last year's figure for the same period. The disease has also resulted in the hospitalisation of some 14 948 patients since January.
Dr Uusiku, Director of Primary Health Care Services in the Ministry of Health and Social Services, said the disease is the leading cause of ill health and death amongst adults and children in the Kavango, Oshana, Caprivi, Ohangwena and Omusati regions.
So far, she said, Eenhana district in Ohangwena is the only district that has reported the highest increase on malaria cases, although unconfirmed sources say Okakarara, Epukiro and Otjinene are also badly affected this year.
A source who could not identify himself at Okakarara Hospital said malaria in the district is on the increase and many people have already died as a result. He could not, however, give any statistics.
He said this year's situation is bad due to the good rains received. According to him, some patients refuse to seek medical attention, while others go to hospitals when it is too late for doctors to help save their lives.
The Chief Health Inspector at Gobabis State Hospital said although malaria cases are on the increase compared to other years during the same period, the situation is not that serious.
Andre Smith told New Era that malaria is a cycle in that there is an outbreak every fourth to fifth year all over the country.
Smith said malaria cases have gone down systematically in the Omaheke Region since 1997 when the region reported 3 899 cases, which was the highest. This year, he said, estimates are that about 500 to 600 cases would be reported and out of these positive malaria cases would be made up of around 300 people.
So far not more than five patients have died of malaria at the hospital.
Asked whether there is an outbreak of the disease, Smith said, "It's more than the other years, but it is not an outbreak."
"This year, it is exceptionally high. People are dying but it is not like in other regions," he added.
If the situation was bad, people could have been lying on the floor at the hospital, as was the case in 1997.
Heavy rainfall in Epukiro and Eiseb block, he said, have left a lot of stagnant water, which creates fertile breeding ground for mosquitoes.
As a preventative measure, spraying needs to be carried out every year on dams and people's houses to reduce malaria cases, but Smith said there is no spraying of people's houses due to shortage of funds.
Spraying of dams or ponds, he said, need around N$100 000 while houses require much more money, up to as much as N$700 000. "Each year we try to get money, but funds are limited," he said.
Last year, 419 223 cases of malaria were reported countrywide, resulting in the hospitalisation of 20 408 patients. Of these, 1 096 died.
Dr Uusiku said the predominantly seasonal nature of malaria in the northern regions prevents people from acquiring strong immunity against the disease and all ages are affected, with pregnant women and young children being at the greatest risk.
In the Kavango and Caprivi regions, the high average temperatures, rainfall as well as the humidity, she said, are conducive to mosquito breeding and higher transmission of malaria, which is perennial with seasonal peak being between April and May.
In the Oshana, Oshikoto, Ohangwena, Omusati, Kunene, Otjozondjupa and Omaheke regions, the transmission is seasonal and follows the onset of rains with a peak in April and May.
And because of the variable climatic factors, added Dr Uusiku, malaria transmission levels in the country vary from year to year and from place to place.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2004 New Era. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
