Maravi

Zambia takes lead in malaria control

Zambia takes lead in malaria control
By Masuzyo Chakwe
Sun 21 Mar. 2010, 04:20 CAT

ZAMBIA has been hailed as a global leader in malaria control.
This was during a three-day brainstorming session in Ghana last week.

National Malaria Control Centre (NMCC) principal information, education and communication officer Pauline Wamulume who led the Zambian delegation said the nation could not be complacent in its efforts to fight malaria.

“Now is not the time to back down but to keep the pressure on. By doing so, we are confident that we will win the fight against malaria,” Wamulume said.

She joined professionals from 11 African countries, who met to discuss progress and strategy for the United Against Malaria campaign.

According to a statement, Zambia was working on a television public service announcement while corporate partner Manzi Valley was soon to publish the latest in series of children’s colouring books, depicting the campaign.

It stated that a number of events had been planned for the World Malaria Day, which falls on April 25.

United Against Malaria leverages the energy and passion of football to communicate important messages about the treatment and prevention of malaria, driving Zambia’s goal of reaching the 2010 target of universal access to treated bed nets and malaria medicine, a crucial first step to reaching the international target of reducing deaths to near zero by 2015.

Among those backing the campaign are Chipolopolo striker Christopher Katongo and defender Emmanuel Mbola, and England international David Beckham.

Local corporate partners include Manzi Valley, Zambeef, Shoprite and Zambian Breweries.
United Against Malaria was being launched in countries across Africa in the run up to next year’s World Cup in South Africa and global partners included the Gates Foundation with support from the United Nations Foundation, Roll Back Malaria Partnership, the One Campaign, Malaria No More, PATH, PSI, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Comic Relief.

It is said that malaria is endemic in all nine provinces of Zambia, accounting for around a third of all hospital visits and having a major impact on families, the economy and the health system.

The Zambian government has made malaria prevention and control a national priority and has intensified its scale up of interventions in recent years.

Over seven million insecticide treated bed nets have been distributed nationwide and indoor residual spraying is now conducted in half of Zambia’s 72 districts.

Labels: MALARIA

posted by MrK @ 11:44 AM