Health authorities declare malaria outbreak

Boniface Keakabetse | Friday January 17, 2014 16:44

 'As per the malaria elimination strategy currently implemented in all the health facilities, two cases are enough to declare an outbreak,' he said.Mungisi said both the cases were recorded in Maun, adding that there has not been any confirmed case in other villages in the greater Maun area. 

Mungisi said malaria transmission prevalence is historically high in Ngami, Okavango and Chobe areas. He said transmission mainly happens during the rainy season between November and May with a peak from mid-February to April.He said the District Health Team (DHT) is on alert to stop the spread of the disease.  The DHT started indoor residual house spraying and distributing insecticides treated mosquito nets last year. Mungisi revealed that the indoor spraying coverage stands at 70% but was not in a position to disclose how many mosquito nets have been given out so far.   He also revealed that they were undertaking information, education and communication advocacy to enlighten the community on the dangers of the disease.Mungisi said they were appealing to all the people showing symptoms of the disease to immediately seek medical attention. He said they were also appealing to visitors to Ngami to take malaria medication at health facilities before visiting. In 2010 Ministry of Health with the support of World Health Organisation launched the malaria elimination campaign to scale up intensification of efforts to eradicate the disease in the country.

The Malaria Strategic Plan (MSP) 2010-2015 was also launched as part of the elimination campaign. The MSP guides the implementation of activities that will assist in the achievement of Zero Malaria transmission by 2015. It spells out preparedness interventions like the identification of epidemic-prone areas and populations at risk to allow prediction, early detection and targeting of rapid response.