Published by the government of Zimbabwe
9 September 2008
Harare — GOVERNMENT will this year start spraying for malaria parasites before the rainy season begins in malaria-prone areas.
Senior health officials attending the annual malaria conference held in Kariba recently resolved that malaria-endemic areas, which are difficult to access during the rainy season, should be sprayed before the onset of the rains.
Malaria manager in the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare Dr Portia Manangazira said:
"We realised that although some provinces recorded a decrease in malaria cases, there are others whose cases were higher compared to the previous season because they failed to spray owing to flooding in most parts of the country," Dr Manangazira said.
She said although the chemicals were still to be procured, provincial representatives attending the conference agreed to share chemicals from those districts that failed to spray last season.
Dr Manangazira said participants at the conference also deliberated on universal coverage of both prevention and treatment of malaria.
Initially, African countries had agreed to reach at least 60 percent of vulnerable populations with insecticide-treated mosquito nets (ITNs), spraying and treatment.
The target population was pregnant women and children under five years of age mostly in rural areas, who are economically disadvantaged.
"Zimbabwe achieved the 60 percent target and is now moving towards 90 percent universal coverage. Instead of concentrating on pregnant women and children under five, we are saying every household, even in urban areas, should have at least three ITNs," Dr Manangazira said.
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