Published by the government of Zimbabwe
2 May 2008
Harare — ZIMBABWE has taken over from Zambia the Sadc roll back malaria campaign programme code named the Zambezi River of Life Expedition aimed at intensifying the fight against the disease.
The expedition which started at the source of the river and expected to finish in its delta will see medical teams, local and international journalists travel through five districts namely Hwange, Binga, Kariba, Hurungwe and Guruve in inflatable boats and by road reaching out to inaccessible communities along the river until the campaign banner is passed on to Mozambique in Chirundu.
So far the banner has passed through Angola, Namibia, Botswana and Zambia.
Speaking at the hand over ceremony at the Victoria Falls-Livingstone border on Tuesday, where the Zambian health team passed on the anti malaria banner to the Zimbabwean health delegation, the ROL coordinator who is also the Sadc military services head, Lieutenant Colonel Kaka Mudambo said the region was prepared to eradicate malaria.
He said it was high time that the communities along the river utilise the water for productive purposes rather than wait for the river to breed mosquitoes that would spread malaria.
"As we see from the code name, River Of Life, the Zambezi River should be a source of life for the villagers and people living along it. The only way to achieve this is by eradicating the killer disease prevalent in these areas and this can only be achieved through anti malaria campaigns.
"Today (Tuesday) Zimbabwe takes over the banner from Zambia and will also pass it on to Mozambique. We hope to reach several communities along the river from Msuna, Binga, Kariba before Chirundu, " he said.
Lt Col Mudambo said there was need for cooperation from all the state agents, National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority and all the stakeholders in the fight against the disease that knows no race, tribe or educational qualifications.
An official from Zimbabwe's Ministry of Health and Child Welfare said the Government would continue to supply people with drugs and mosquito nets to complement efforts by other organisations like the sponsors of the expedition.
She said since the launch of the anti malaria programmes in 2001, there has been a sharp decrease in malaria related deaths in the country.
"Sixty percent of our population use nets and we want to reach the 100 percent mark. There is also need for community participation to complement efforts from the Government and stakeholders in this fight against malaria," the official said.
Meanwhile about 20 people died of malaria following an outbreak of the disease in Bubi district in Matabeleland North province last week.
The Provincial Medical Director, Dr Irene Ndiweni, confirmed this on the sidelines of the launch of the River of Life Malaria Campaign Expedition.
She said the outbreak had since been dealt with.
Dr Ndiweni said the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare had set up a satellite clinic to treat and test villagers.
"Yes about 20 deaths from malaria were recorded in Bubi last week. However, I am glad to say that the situation is now under control," she said.
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