Would you believe it if someone told you that malaria kills children under the age of five every 90 seconds in Zambia?
Well, the above is true just like it is also true that at least 90% of the population in Zambia is either infected or at risk of being infected by malaria.
When it comes to death, malaria is just as unforgiving as witnessed by over 250 000 deaths caused by malaria between 2016 and 2017 in Zambia.
The Ministry of Health has not been quiet about malaria either, as witnessed by a number of programmes initiated aimed at curbing one of Zambia’s most lethal diseases in the name of malaria.
International well wishers, donors and health related agencies have also stretched out a hand to offer help to Zambia through programmes such as the Malaria Control Programmes spearheaded by World Health Organisation (WHO).
Zambia was referred to as one of the most ambitious countries in the fight against malaria in Africa, which has further caught the attention of other international partners such as the Global Fund to fight HIV and AIDS, Tuberculosis (T.B) and Malaria, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), U.S President’s Malaria initiative, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation among others.
Has there been success in the fight against malaria?
Of course, there has been a notable success in the fight against malaria since the beginning of the malaria control programme which started in 2011.
According to information obtained between 2010 and 2014 from Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary Kennedy Malama, 1 out of 5 malaria victims
experienced death from the disease.
Dr. Malama said the percentage has reduced so significantly, with 1 person dying from ten victims experienced between 2014 and 2018.
Dr Malama said that the target was however that of completely eradicating malaria in Zambia by 2021.
In as much as there has been some progress in the fight against malaria in the recent past, our target is that of putting malaria to bed, Dr. Malama said.
Suppose Zambia achieves this ambitious project, no doubt, it will be the first country to do so in Africa.
So what’s Next in the fight against malaria?
It seems next is now in the fight against malaria in Zambia, with the launch of Kansai anti mosquito coating paint expected to do justice to the Ministry of Health.
The paint, tried and tested in other countries such as India, Japan and Malaysia, is expected to leave a mark on the face of malaria infected country-Zambia.
Speaking during the official launch of the paint on 1st October, 2018, Kansai Paint President Mr. Hiroshi Ishimo said the company’s anti mosquito paint was the first of its kind and is expected to help tremendously in the fight against malaria.
“There wont be need to burn leaves to scare mosquitoes once your house is coated with anti mosquito paint, because there is no chance of mosquitoes,” Mr. Ishimo said.
The Ministry of Health seems to have liked the innovation by Kansai Paints of introducing such a unique product.He further urged the Zambia population to make use of the this rare paint.
While speaking at the official launch of the paint, Minister of Local Government, standing in for the then out of country Minister of Health Dr. Chitalu Chilufya said health was key to the development of the country and any move that is aimed at the attainment of better health facilities must be appreciated.
The Minister re-emphasized government’s commitment towards achieving a malaria free Zambia by 2021.
Whether the country can successfully achieve this goal by 2021 is a story for another day, for now, ‘Free Malaria Zambia 2021’ is the talk of the day.
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Credits
Source; Virginia Chilongo
Editor; Kutasha Mulenga
Text Layout; Misheck M. Chipenzi, Margaret Malilo
Photography; Kachabe Hamattan
Writer; Hannah Kaniini, Faith Hamayanda
Sources; Kennedy Malama (PS), Ministry of Health; Vincent Mwale (Minister), Ministry of Local Government and Housing and Hiroshi Ishimo (President), Kansai Paints.
Tulande 