By Willie Gwatimba & Leonard Mabasa
Ministry of Health Launches Malaria Blitz in Buhera District
The Ministry of Health and Child Care has deployed a malaria team to the Mushongwi area in Buhera district, Manicaland Province, to conduct a major fumigation exercise aimed at combating the deadly disease. The move comes as the World Health Organization (WHO) reports an estimated 241 million malaria cases worldwide in 2020, resulting in 627,000 deaths.
Citizen reporter Emmanuel Mauya reported that several households in the area have already been fumigated, but some were skipped due to absentees.
“In Chapanduka, they sprayed for two days and left. It’s unfortunate some homes were left because of various reasons. In most cases, the reason was that there would be no one at the affected homes. I saw more than three people who indicated that they missed the services. From my discussion with them, they were really eager to have their homes sprayed,” Mauya said.
The WHO notes that malaria is a preventable and curable disease caused by parasites transmitted through infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. The African Region bears a disproportionate burden of the global malaria caseload, accounting for 95% of cases and 96% of deaths in 2020. Children under five are particularly vulnerable, making up an estimated 80% of malaria deaths in the region.
The Ministry’s efforts aim to reduce the malaria burden in Zimbabwe, and residents are urged to cooperate with the fumigation team to ensure the success of the exercise.
