E8 tackles malaria
JEMIMA BEUKES
Windhoek
The Elimination 8 countries have launched 48 malaria border posts that have helped countries to test over 1.1 million people since the inception of the programme in March 2017, the latest SADC Malaria Elimination Eight Initiative annual report says.
According to the report, the number of people tested and treated for malaria have significantly improved since 2017 and 2018 when clinics were still being set up and community mobilisation initiated.
“In 2019, over 420 000 people were tested across the five priority borders at the border health posts. This resulted in 99.1% testing rate. Out of those tested, 20 000 positive cases were diagnosed and treated, 35% being mobile and migrant populations,” the report states. It also highlights that the expansion of community health worker programmes improved early detection and treatment of malaria infections before they report to a health facility.
For this year, the E8 conducted training for community health extension workers (CHEW) in the western part of Zambia bordering Angola and part of Namibia.
Namibia's CHEW programme is fairly new and has deployed over 1 962 health workers who function as a link between healthcare facilities and the community.
The E8 also supported Namibia in procuring 10 368 bottles of Pririmiphos-methyl 300CS (Actellic) to bridge the gap as the country transitions from Pyrethroid to Organosphates-based IRS.
The report attributes the decrease in malaria cases since 2017 to a number of factors including the consistent and sufficient supply of malaria commodities in both private and public health facilities for early diagnosis and treatment.
Another factor is the timely deployment of spraying teams with sufficient insecticides and the correct equipment to conduct indoor residual spraying (IRS) in over 90% targeted households.
Early case management upon reactive case detection seeks to identify and interrupt pockets of transmission in elimination countries.
It also noted increased access to malaria services for hard-to-reach communities, mobile and migrant communities through border health posts, mobile facilities and vigilant surveillance.
[email protected]
Windhoek
The Elimination 8 countries have launched 48 malaria border posts that have helped countries to test over 1.1 million people since the inception of the programme in March 2017, the latest SADC Malaria Elimination Eight Initiative annual report says.
According to the report, the number of people tested and treated for malaria have significantly improved since 2017 and 2018 when clinics were still being set up and community mobilisation initiated.
“In 2019, over 420 000 people were tested across the five priority borders at the border health posts. This resulted in 99.1% testing rate. Out of those tested, 20 000 positive cases were diagnosed and treated, 35% being mobile and migrant populations,” the report states. It also highlights that the expansion of community health worker programmes improved early detection and treatment of malaria infections before they report to a health facility.
For this year, the E8 conducted training for community health extension workers (CHEW) in the western part of Zambia bordering Angola and part of Namibia.
Namibia's CHEW programme is fairly new and has deployed over 1 962 health workers who function as a link between healthcare facilities and the community.
The E8 also supported Namibia in procuring 10 368 bottles of Pririmiphos-methyl 300CS (Actellic) to bridge the gap as the country transitions from Pyrethroid to Organosphates-based IRS.
The report attributes the decrease in malaria cases since 2017 to a number of factors including the consistent and sufficient supply of malaria commodities in both private and public health facilities for early diagnosis and treatment.
Another factor is the timely deployment of spraying teams with sufficient insecticides and the correct equipment to conduct indoor residual spraying (IRS) in over 90% targeted households.
Early case management upon reactive case detection seeks to identify and interrupt pockets of transmission in elimination countries.
It also noted increased access to malaria services for hard-to-reach communities, mobile and migrant communities through border health posts, mobile facilities and vigilant surveillance.
[email protected]
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article