28 Jun 2018

Humana People to People has launched a Community Acting Together to Eliminate Malaria (CATTEM) programme in Sehithwa.

The programme aims to empower communities to take the lead in the fight against malaria.

Humana People to People community facilitator Mr Kelesego Mothowame noted that the programme, which is done in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Wellness, realises that communities produced fruitful results when they came up with interventions compared to when they are imposed on them.

The programme, he said, recognises that cooperation in the fight against malaria is crucial, hence it works with dikgosi and volunteers to get ideas from the community in the elimination of malaria by 2020.

Mr Obolokile Ramachaba, one of the five trained volunteers from Sehithwa, said the programme, which is a countrywide effort, was launched in two villages in the North West District being Sehithwa and Khwai/Mababe which experience high cases of malaria due to their swampy nature.

In his welcome remarks, Kgosi Boikobo Manyaagae of Sehithwa encouraged communities to work with the volunteers to eliminate malaria.

He observed that malaria was caused by many factors such as untidy surroundings.

A resident, Ms Kerekang Mmeleri appreciated the programme, saying malaria was deadly and so the community should cooperate with volunteers.

Sehithwa chief of arbitration, Kgosi Dumi Kandu said the community was crucial in the fight against malaria since they were responsible for allowing interventions like the indoor residual spraying.

Kgosi Kandu said recent statistics showed a decrease in the deaths caused by malaria, believing therefore that CATTEM would surely help eliminate such deaths. ENDS