Cooperating partners join North-West malaria fight

GOVERNMENT with cooperating partners has pumped in about K10 million in the eradication of malaria in North-Western Province.

Out of the total amount, K3,621,034 will go towards the Indoor Residue Spray (IRS) covering 52 percent of the province while K5,051,992 would be spent on mass distribution of insecticide treated mosquito nets to reach a total coverage of 48 percent.

Mass drug administration to reach a targeted cover of 83 percent would gobble K1,330,095.

This came to light during the provincial epidemic preparedness meeting held in Solwezi.

North-Western Province Permanent Secretary, Willies Mangimela, said Government had prioritised health as a key economic investment in line with the Seventh National Development Plan.

He stated that disease control and prevention across the country was top on the agenda, stating that strategies had been put in plan to achieve the goals.

"These strategies include malaria elimination strategies, indoor residue spray, mass distribution of insecticide treated mosquito nets as well as mass drug administration.

"All these measures are being implemented in the province and are aimed at eradicating malaria," he Permanent Secretary said.

Mr Mangimela said Government had also put in place the 'keep Zambia clean, green and healthy campaign’ as a measure to control and prevent communicable diseases in the country.

He, however, bemoaned the low compliance levels among members of the public on the control and prevention of Covid-19.

He said people should take the pandemic seriously and adhere to the preventive measures.

Mr Mangimela said that the province had recorded eight deaths out of the 12,743 tests of which 646 were positive cases.

He reminded the local authorities and the Ministry of Health to prepare adequately for the outbreak of diseases such as cholera as the region in the rainy season.