By Emily M’mangisa

Zomba, June 26, Mana: Authorities in Zomba have expressed concern with the rapid increase of malaria cases this year in the district.

Statistics made available to Malawi New Agency (Mana) indicate that from January to March this year, malaria cases have reached 13, 930 compared to 7, 861 recorded in the same period last year.

Zomba District Malaria Coordinator, Saidi Ndawu said proportion of malaria cases in all ages is at 37 percent implying that 37 out of every 100 people seeking treatment in all out-patient departments are malaria patients.

Ndawu said out of the 37 percent, children under the age of five are topping the list with 24 percent, followed by pregnant women at three percent with others at ten percent.

“The surge of malaria cases in the district is due to lack of mosquito nets and failure to adhere to malaria drugs by pregnant women,” he said.

Zomba District Health Promotion Officer, Arnold Mndalira concurred with Ndawu that the situation is getting worse due to stagnant water in urban areas which create breeding spaces for mosquitoes.

He however, said the health office is currently implementing some interventions that will help in fighting the disease.

“We have trained health personnel in all 60 health facilities on how they can diagnose malaria and we are making sure that treatment is available in all the facilities in the district,” he said.

Mndalira, therefore, warned communities against the use of insecticide treated mosquito nets for fishing, lamenting that such conduct undermines efforts to fight malaria.

Malaria continues to be one of the killer diseases in the country. However, government through the Ministry of Health intends to eradicate malaria by 2030.