People hail malaria fight intervention

Traditional leaders in Balaka District have commended government and World Vision Malawi for implementing indoor residual (IRS) spraying programme to kill mosquito larva.

Government is implementing the programme in malaria hot spot districts of Balaka, Mangochi, Nkhata Bay and Nkhotakota.

Speaking during a community feedback meeting on Friday, Traditional Authority who said the intervention was welcome.

She said: “Previously during the rainy season, we could hardly sleep due to mosquito bites and their irritating sounds.

“But the situation has improved as the insecticide has reduced mosquitoes in our area.”

During another meeting, Mbera Area Development Committee chairperson Amosi Komakoma commended World Vision Malawi for spraying their houses with the insecticide.

“The project was successful due to the involvement of local leaders,” he said.

Balaka District Hospital health promotion officer Mercy Nyirenda said the district has registered a decrease in malaria due to the intervention.

Last year, Minister of Health Khumbize Chiponda said malaria cases were still high in Southern African Development Community (Sadc) despite progress being made by countries within the region.

The minister said this in Salima during the commemoration of Sadc Malaria Day which also marked the launch of mosquito net distribution campaign.

Chiponda said malaria still remains a major health problem in the region; hence, the need for member States to implement interventions to eradicate the disease.

“We have been discussing malaria at our three day conference in Lilongwe trying to find means of eliminating the disease by 2030,” she said.

The minister said Sadc region members have come up with interventions to fight malaria such as the distribution of insecticide treated nets, IRS and case management.

Said Chiponda: “Government with support from Global Fund, Unicef and Gavi will this year distribute about nine million nets.

“Our target is to reach out to every Malawian where two people are going to share one net as one way of eliminating the disease.”

World Health Organisation representative Dr Janet Kayita said the African region is facing a challenge of vector insecticide resistance which could compromise the effectiveness of the interventions.