Government says Zambia has recorded a decline in malaria cases by over 60%.
Health Minister Kapembwa Simbao said this has surpassed the set Abuja and Roll Back Malaria (RBM) targets of reducing malaria illnesses and deaths by 50% by 2010.
Mr. Simbao disclosed this when he officially opened a three-day Parliamentary Forum on Malaria for East and Southern Africa at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre (MICC) in Lusaka today.
The theme for the forum is “Achieving near Zero Malaria deaths by 2015 through the framework of the Abuja Plan Action.
Mr. Simbao said there is need for a strong political will, leadership, increased financial resources,strengthened and well coordinated partnership if success has to be recorded in the decline of Malaria cases.
The Health Minister said with evidence based strategies, Zambia and other countries represented at the Parliamentary Forum have greatly reduced both illness and deaths resulting from malaria adding that the resolve now should be to attain the goal of Near Zero Malaria by 2015.
Mr. Simbao recognised the vital contributions of all partners who include multi and bilateral organisations, Civil Society, research organisations and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) among others in fighting malaria.
At the same occasion, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Mutale Nalumango said the Zambian Parliament is aware of the devastating impact of malaria on development of the nation.
Mrs. Nalumango said it is in view of this that in 2005, the Parliamentary Committee on Health, Community Development and Social Welfare undertook a etailed study in attaining the health related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
The Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly noted that in their study,the committee focused on prevention and case management of malaria in the country.
Mrs. Nalumango also pointed out that the committee conceded that malaria was endemic throughout Zambia and that it was a major public health problem.
And Roll Back Malaria (RBM) Executive Director Awa Marie Coll-Seck said malaria is a complex disease that requires multi sectoral response.
Professor Coll-Seck said the success to win the fight against malaria requires the ability for all to work together across Africa.
Thats wonderful 60%. i only hope these are not false statistics coz one wonders if there are no drugs in hospitals
News noteworthy. This is good progress. We can only wish that these gains can be sustained in the coming years.
the signs of a working gvt..there is more coming in the health sector as more hospitals n clinics/ health centres are being opened and also upgraded..
And where is kapoko n the baby kits????
@2 lets vote RB for continuity of such,will get to 99%,those are just signs of good governance
Our students are still seeing a lot of mosquitos in many homes causing malaria and many people have not had their surroundings sprayed.
I wonder weather that can be true i dont know maybe but how has that come up
Simbao, stop cheating! Its immoral just imagine the many deaths in our hospitals, clinics! Today it suits you to say less malaria cases, but the next day when you will be beggaging money from donors you are going to use the direct opposite statistics to justify your case! Lets be straight we need to do more about malaria. Your preffered line of treatment is not working and we are experiencing more deaths from the malaria and you Simbao has shame no to even give such a statement. Ba Doctor say the truth.
Where did the mosquitoes go Mr. Simbao? Good job!
What are the base numbers? What is this 60% of.? How many malaria cases do we have per year?
That is good news, but a wod of caution!, Malaria comes from dirtiness. eating flies, mosquito bites, sewerages etc. So please people who are getting ill of these diseases need education and they need to eat the right food and take a shower. Common sense isnt it? Thanks
Have you ever eaten flies before? or did your father feed you flies before you left Zambia?
Quality of life is getting better in Zambia. Can we really risk all that by voting in a sickly and inconsistent Bemba tribalist with a penchant for violence?
@mushota, you are first person i’ve heard who got malaria from eating flies. Oh my God, you must be out of this world, or you must extremely dull.
Your government at work!