Zim calls for coordinated malaria response

Source: The Herald – Breaking news.

 

Vice President Dr Constantino Chiwenga (in blue suit) being assisted by RBM (Roll Back Malaria) Partnership to End Malaria chief executive Dr Michael Charles (right) and Mashonaland East Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Dr Apolonia Munzverengwi (third from right) in cutting the ribbon at the official launch of the Zero Malaria programme at Murehwa Centre yesterday. – Picture: Kudakwashe Hunda

Mukudzei Chingwere in MUREHWA

THE SADC region needs a coordinated approach and resilient health systems grounded in the principles of universal health coverage and full citizen participation to achieve its goals in the fight against malaria, Vice President Dr Constantino Chiwenga has said.

VP Chiwenga said this when he launched the Zimbabwean leg of the “Zero Malaria Starts With Me” campaign, joining 24 other African countries, predominantly from the SADC region, in the fight against malaria in Murehwa yesterday.

The launch coincided with the SADC Malaria Day, a day set aside to aggregate and coordinate the region’s health sector stakeholders in the fight against malaria.

The theme for this year’s commemoration is, “Resilient Health Systems and Communities: Key to Malaria Elimination,” which underscores that malaria elimination cannot be achieved without strong health systems at everyone’s disposal and a slogan, “Timely Access to Malaria Services, Everyone’s Right.”

Leading health stakeholders from across the region converged in Harare this week, under the auspices of the SADC Ministers of Health conference, deliberating on public health issues aimed at contributing to the attainment of improved quality of life for the people.

VP Chiwenga said with 83 percent of the SADC population living in malaria-risk areas and a reported 13 percent increase in malaria cases in 2023, the region is still in the woods.

“Our efforts in building resilient health systems must be holistic and grounded in the principles of universal health coverage,” he said.

“This involves improving the accessibility of malaria testing and treatment services, expanding coverage of vector control measures such as indoor residual spraying and insecticide-treated mosquito nets, and ensuring that every citizen has the correct information on malaria prevention, control and elimination, regardless of their geographical location.

“Everyone in SADC has the right to access malaria prevention, diagnostic, and treatment services promptly without discrimination.  As a collective, we maintain that no individual should die from malaria simply because they could not receive care on time”.

VP Chiwenga acknowledged the critical role played by community health workers and volunteers, saying they are unsung heroes of malaria elimination efforts across our region. He said it is heart-warming to see collective efforts, dedication, and unwavering commitment to fighting malaria, a disease that has been a scourge on people and a barrier to socio-economic development.

VP Chiwenga said eliminating malaria will make the region a safer and better place for economic development and prosperity as well as free up resources to address other health and development priorities and accelerate economic development.

“You will all agree that, with increased travel, trade and population mobility, diseases that once seemed confined to specific regions now have the potential to spread rapidly across borders, affecting millions of our populations in the region,” he said.

VP Chiwenga acknowledged the support from developmental partners whose financial and technical contributions are assisting in the fight against malaria.

SADC Deputy Executive Secretary, Ms Angele Makombo N’tumba, commended Zimbabwe for putting malaria and general healthcare concerns high on the political agenda.