Published by the government of Zimbabwe
24 April 2009
Harare — GOVERNMENT remains committed to eradicating malaria, Health and Child Welfare Minister Dr Henry Madzorera has said.
Minister Madzorera said reducing the impact of malaria would significantly increase the nation's chances of achieving the United Nations-set Millennium Development Goals, one of whose targets is to halt and reverse the incidence of malaria by 2015.
Addressing a Press conference in Harare on Wednesday, Minister Madzorera said Zimbabwe had managed to reduce annual malaria cases from an average of 1,5 million cases per year in previous years to 1 million in 2008.
"The malaria case fatality rate has also been declining from an average of 0,2 per year to 0,06 percent last year. Detection and control of the mosquito-borne disease has improved significantly over the years with most districts now being able to detect and control outbreaks within two weeks of onset.
"Malaria remains a serious public health problem in Zimbabwe and is the third commonest cause of morbidity and mortality in our country after HIV and Aids and tuberculosis across all age groups," Minister Madzorera said.
Government's goal was to reduce malaria cases and deaths by half by 2010 in line with the Abuja Declaration, hence it had reintroduced DDT as an indoor residual spray and new drug, Coartemether for the treatment of uncomplicated malaria. On average, close to 1,5 million malaria cases are reported annually while about 1 000 people die from the disease in Zimbabwe.
Celebrations to mark this year's World Malaria Day will be held at Rio Tinto Secondary School in Kwekwe today (under the theme "Counting Malaria Out".
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