Malaria cases upswing worries PS

Tue, 09 Jan 2018 10:18:19 +0000

By VIOLET TEMBO

THE Ministry of Health (MOH) on the Copperbelt is concerned over the increasing number of malaria cases in the 10 districts of the province.

According to provincial health director Consity Mwale, the province registered over 4,000 positive malaria cases in 2017, which he said, should be a major concern to all.

Dr Mwale pointed out that the numbers were huge when the country was talking about elimination of the disease by 2020.

He was disappointed that despite huge investments to eliminate the disease in communities, a high number of cases were being recorded especially in the rural areas of Kalulushi and Luanshya districts.

“The province was given 1,400,000 insecticide treated mosquito nets and these were successfully distributed in the 10 districts in the province so as to avert any deaths.

“However, we are concerned with the failure by residents to use the mosquito nets. We treated over 4050 positive malaria cases with the rural areas registering huge numbers.

It is our appeal to stakeholders to come on board especially the media to sensitise the communities on the use of mosquito nets. Malaria is a preventable disease and it will require consented efforts if the country is to attain zero malaria incidences,” he said.

Meanwhile, Dr. Mwale disclosed that the Ministry had recommended termination of a contract awarded to a company engaged to upgrade infrastructure at Ndeke village clinic in Kitwe.

He said the clinic was earmarked to be upgraded into a first level hospital but works had delayed because of the issue of capacity on the part of the contractor.

The process to terminate the contract was under way and was being handled by project managers, Dr Mwale said.