10 Oct 2016

Malaria elimination requires combined efforts to meet the South African Development Community (SADC) initiative, the Ngami District Health Management Team (DHMT) acting head Dr Maxwell Mungisi has said.    

Dr Mungisi said stakeholder involvement would surely help Botswana eliminate Malaria by 2018. Botswana, he said was among eight African countries with high prevalence of Malaria. He therefore implored countries to eliminate Malaria by 2020.

Briefing the media, he noted that stakeholders were key in Malaria elimination since they could assist Ngami DHMT with information dissemination.

Dr Mungisi emphasised the need to intensify strategies in place to tackle Malaria during its season between October and May, as well as bring stakeholders on board and equip health providers.

The head of Preventive Services, Ms Goitsemang Mothibi said Botswana as a SACD member was compelled to achieve the elimination initiative.

Ms Mothibi said 88 cases of Malaria were recorded in 2014, with three deaths in Ngamiland area, while 2015 had 25 cases with no deaths and 90 cases recorded in 2016 with one death in Seronga.

She said about 28 cases of Malaria in 2016 were from countries outside Botswana.

However, Ms Mothibi said Malaria Prevention Indoor Residual Spray (IRS) faced challenges of failure to comply from some community members.

She said people who refused IRS cited reasons such as no access to locked houses, food storage houses and new born in the houses.

Ms Mothibi therefore said stakeholders should assist tremendously by making communities appreciate IRS and insecticide treated nets.

The treated nets are given to the vulnerable groups, children, expectant mothers and elders, she said.

The meeting was organised to engage stakeholders such as community leaders and media to inform them about the Malaria elimination strategy.

Activities planned by Ngami DHMT are Community Based Organisations (CBO) training to be held on November 1-3 and Malaria Roadshow on November 14 to 17. ENDS