11 Sep 2017

The US Peace Corps Volunteers in partnership with the Okavango and Ngamiland DHMT’s recently embarked on a bike tour to share with the Shakawe community preventative measures on Malaria.

The Peace Corps volunteers cycled from Maun to Shakawe sharing messages of Malaria prevention to 13 communities in the region.

Attendants including dignitaries among them the US ambassador Mr Earl Miller and the Shakawe East councillor were also given an opportunity to tour stalls to get first-hand information while information on Malaria prevention was also provided through entertainment.

Speaking at the event, Malaria surveillance officer; Gumare DHTM, Ms Keafiwa Segwai said Malaria was an issue that deeply affected everyone as it impacted on the community. She said last season the country experienced one of the worst malaria outbreaks.

“About 1 192 cases were registered in the Okavango and many of those were located in the Shakawe catchment area while the district lost five individuals due to malaria last year,” she said.

Ms Segwai also noted that Malaria could be prevented only with support from the community.She explained that currently the main intervention used in the area in response to Malaria was the indoor residual spraying (IRS) adding that it was being used alongside the long-lasting insecticidal bed nets.

“However we can only protect ourselves and our community if everyone actively participates in prevention activities,”she added.

 Meanwhile she noted that last year, coverage with IRS only reached 56.6 per cent of homes in the district and as a result the protection from Malaria was not as effective as it could have been.

She said in Shakawe, only 23.3 per cent of dwellings were sprayed as part of the IRS campaign, resulting in over 126 cases of malaria last year and one of the highest numbers in the district were Xakao with 130 cases, Ghani with 62 as well as Nxamasere with 42 cases.

“For us to successfully eliminate Malaria, we need assistance of each of you. I encourage people to allow the IRS teams to spray your homes. Not only does this help to protect you and your family from malaria. It also helps protect your neighbours and friends.

It takes a community to eliminate malaria,” she said. Further, she said Malaria was curable if only people upon noticing the signs during the malaria season reported to the health facility as soon as possible without hesitation.

For his part, the Shakawe clinic Nurse in charge Mr Kagiso Kebinaefe said the objective of the tour was to come together and join hands in the fight to eliminate Malaria which badly affected the area especially during rainy seasons. ENDS