By Rabecca Chimjeka
Fight on Malaria rages in Malawi (Microsoft Word)
Malaria remains a threat and a major cause of deaths in Sub-Saharan Africa and Malawi in particular, confirms the country’s 2010 Demographic and Health Survey.
Malawi government, through the Ministry of Health is implementing a five year called Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) targeting communities in the country’s five lakeshore districts of Karonga,Nkhatabay, Nkhotakota,Salima,Mangochi and the two Lower Shire districts of Chikhwawa and Nsanje.
According o the Doreen Ali of the Malaria Control Program in the Ministry of Health, the IRS drive that rolled out in 2007 is on track. She confirms that 77,647 structures have been sprayed out of 82,629 targeted translating into about 88 percent success rate attributing this success story to community participation among other important factors.
The IRS seeks to compliment other Malaria control initiatives such as Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs) in the fight against Anopheles Mosquito the vector of Malaria parasite called Plasmodium-falciparum.
Ali says Malawi Government is committed to eradicate anopheles mosquito and reduce mortality rate caused by the deadly disease.
“ Through IRS drive and other initiatives Malawians can see light at the end of the tunnel and hope to achieve a notable drop of Malaria cases in the country.”
Ali is resolute that the eradication of Malaria would go along away in achieving a health nation and contribute to sustainable development citing reduced absenteeism in schools, reduced medical expenditure on Malaria cases as verifiable indicator on the ground.
“This will translate into achieving a health nation and increase productivity among communities in Malawi, this will spur national development.” says Ali.
The ITNs program which gets financial support from the USA’s Presidential Malaria Initiative (PMI).