Government says malaria related cases are on the increase in Luwingu district of the Northern Province.
Luwingu district commissioner Patrick Chanda observed this during the commemoration of world malaria day held at Chikoyi village in chief Chipalo area.
He said in an interview that malaria is the leading cause of morbidity and has affected almost the entire population in the district.
It was disheartening to note that government interventions like indoor residual spraying and distribution of insecticide treated mosquito nets people have continued to die of malaria disease in the area, said the District commissioner.
”This is attributed to low utilization and misuse of mosquito treated nets and washing of walls after spraying being practiced by some members of the community.” he lamented.
The district commissioner also disclosed that though government through his office distributed insecticide treated nets to the population of over 200, 000 in the area, some residents used the nets to fence their respective gardens.
“Despite all these interventions, the malaria incidences have continued to increase in the district from 380 cases per 1000 population in 2016 to 480 per 1000 in the year 2017,” he added.
The visibly annoyed district commissioner explained further in an interview with ZANIS that government was spending huge sums of money to procure mosquito nets and chemicals in order to safeguard its citizen from malaria attack.
Mr Chanda said the government through the ministry of health has embarked on a programme called Malaria elimination agenda by the year 2021.
This year world malaria day was commemorated under theme end malaria for good and accompanying slogan for the country malaria ends with me.
All heads of government departments and business men and women were among the people who attended the commemoration.
The programme was characterised with traditional dances, sketches and drama from the nearby drama groups.
