By Kudakwashe Pembere
Zimbabwe on Friday hosted the SADC Malaria Day commemorations attended by Health ministers from member states while joining 24 other African countries in launching the “Zero Malaria Starts With Me” Campaign in Murehwa.
Also present were health development partners.
Officiating the event, Zimbabwe’s Vice President Dr Constantine Chiwenga said the elimination of malaria in the SADC region would pave way for economic development and prosperity.
“The Theme for this year’s commemoration, “Resilient Health Systems and Communities: Key to Malaria Elimination,” underscores a fundamental truth that malaria elimination cannot be achieved without robust health systems that can be accessed by all citizens, including the most vulnerable.
“Furthermore, the slogan, “Timely Access to Malaria Services, Everyone’s Right,” reflects our moral and ethical responsibility as leaders to prioritize the health of our populations, ensure equitable access to essential services, and actively work towards the elimination of malaria as a public health threat.
“In this endeavour, no one and no place is left behind in our fight against this preventable disease. Everyone in SADC has the right to access malaria prevention, diagnostic, and treatment services promptly without discrimination. As a collective, we maintain that no individual should die from malaria simply because they could not receive care on time,” he said.
He commended community health workers for their resilience and commitment in fighting malaria.
“I wish to acknowledge the critical role played by our community health workers and volunteers.
“These men and women are the unsung heroes of malaria elimination efforts across our region.
“They work tirelessly, often under challenging conditions, to bring life-saving information, diagnostics, and treatment to the doorsteps of those most in need,” the Vice President said.
Vice President Chiwenga added that the statistics about the malaria burden in the SADC region showed the region was lagging behind.
“Malaria remains a distressing disease in our region. Approximately Eighty-Three percent of the estimated Four Hundred and Seven Million people in our region live in malaria-risk areas.
“In 2023, malaria cases increased by Thirteen percent from Sixty-Six comma Eight Million in 2022 to Seventy-Six Million cases. Malaria deaths decreased by Nine comma Seven percent from Forty-Two Thousand Eight Hundred and Sixty-Seven in 2022, to Thirty-Eight Thousand Seven Hundred and Forty in 2023.
“Children under the age of 5 years accounted for Fifty-Seven percent of the 2023 deaths,” he said calling for strategies for strengthening health systems through investment in health workforce and infrastructure development.
He added enhanced domestic financing alongside improved surveillance and cross border collaboration and community participation was key.
“As Government, we remain determined to reach the vulnerable groups and special populations with malaria interventions. In due course, the Ministry of Health and Child Care in consultation with other ministries, Government departments, private sector, civil society, and partners, will spearhead the formation and launching of the End Malaria Council (EMC), comprising members from both private and public sectors.
“The council’s mandate will be to raise additional domestic financing for malaria elimination through the establishment of an End Malaria Council to complement annual allocation from Treasury as well as donor contribution.
“This will enhance domestic financing, country ownership and sustainability. The End Malaria Council will also provide oversight on the use of the raised End Malaria Funds,” the Vice President said.
Health and Child Care Minister and SADC chair for Health Dr Douglas Mombeshora said they trained community health workers in the provision of malaria testing and treatment.
“Honourable Vice President, The Ministry of Health and Child Care has stepped up malaria community activities. We have 29 districts with trained community health workers offering malaria testing and treatment services inclusive of the hard-to-reach areas to improve access to care. Regular outreach and community sensitization meetings are also ongoing.
“The Ministry of Health and Child Care has also enhanced its ambulance fleet including the introduction of air ambulance services for reservoirs. Honourable Vice President, Ladies and Gentlemen, We use approved interventions in the malaria response. Indoor residual spraying is conducted in 22 high-burden districts and teams sprayed 2.1 million rooms achieving a 91% room coverage in the year 2023,” he said.
He added they want to expand the indoor residual spraying programme targeting 2.8 million at risk populations this year.
“The country has distributed 1.6 million insecticide-treated nets this year through mass and continuous distribution exercises. Net usage remains a challenge in some communities and the Ministry and its partners are working together to improve consistent usage,” Minister Mombeshora said.
Zimbabwe, Dr Mombeshora said, has made significant progress in the fight against malaria with a decrease in the malaria incidence by 88% from 136 per 1,000 population in the year 2000 down to 16 per 1,000 population in the year 2023. Malaria deaths decreased from 950 in the year 2000 to 317 deaths in the year 2023.
“The ministry is however concerned with malaria mortality trends in the country which has been attributed to late presentation and challenges of severe cases getting to referral centres,” he said.
African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA) Ambassador Professor Sheila Tlou said domestic resource mobilization was the way to go as it helped her country Botswana achieve zero malaria cases for four years.
