Malaria cases have doubled, compared to the same period last year.
Minister of health and social services Kalumbi Shalunga says there have been 630 admissions and 15 deaths in 2024, compared to 287 admissions and six deaths in 2023.
Shangula said this on Monday at the commemoration of World Health Day in the Kavango East region under the theme ‘My Health, My Right’.
“This is a source of concern to me and we must do more to address this situation and reduce the number of cases and deaths in our country,” he said.
Statistics obtained from the district health information system between January and March show that 6 147 malaria cases have been recorded.
Shangula added that malaria is endemic in 10 out of the 14 regions, namely in the Kavango East, Kavango West, Ohangwena, Zambezi, Omusati, Oshana, Kunene, Oshikoto, Omaheke, and Otjozondjupa regions.
Some of the symptoms of malaria include fever, headache, muscle or joint pain, shivering and chills, nausea, vomiting and fatigue.
The ministry has introduced effective evidence-based tools to eliminate malaria.
“These include anti-malaria medicines, long-lasting insecticide-treated nets, indoor residual spraying, and scaling up behavioural change efforts to encourage uptake and ownership of these interventions at community level,” Shangula said.
Another means of defeating malaria is the use of appropriate personal protective equipment and wearing long sleeves and trousers.
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