The Mpumalanga Department of Health is winning the fight against malaria.
This was announced during the launch of the malaria indoor residual campaign in KaMaqhekeza on September 5.
The health MEC, Sasekani Manzini, welcomed 400 appointed malaria spray operators from Nkomazi, Bushbuckridge and Mbombela. These operators will be conducting integrated malaria interventions, including indoor residual spraying, to ensure that malaria outbreaks and mortalities are prevented.
Manzini also highlighted that Mpumalanga is winning the fight against malaria, as evidently seen in the significant drop of reported cases since 2017.
“Over the years, Mpumalanga has made remarkable strides in reducing the burden of malaria. From 2017 to 2023, we witnessed a 78% reduction in local malaria cases, a testimony of the effectiveness of interventions such as indoor residual spraying. This success reflects the dedication, hard work and collaboration among all stakeholders involved in the fight against malaria,” she said.
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These operators are expected to spray a total of 754 000 targeted structures in their respective municipalities. Manzini also cautioned them to approach households with the utmost respect, and urged the communities to welcome them into their homes.
“It was a deliberate move to have taken people from those communities to be the sprayers there. If the people know you as a community member, they will be comfortable with you entering their intimate spaces. We would also like to reiterate that in order for us to run a successful malaria indoors spraying campaign, our operators need the support and co-operation of all the community members whose households they will visit. By allowing our spray operators into our homes, we have taken a patriotic step to reduce malaria transmission and fatalities, and to accelerate the battle to achieve zero local transmissions of malaria,” she added.
During this malaria season, the residents are advised to look out for some of the symptoms of malaria – flu-like symptoms, which include fever and chills, headaches, muscle and joint pains, chest pains, breathing problems and coughing, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pains.
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The launch was also supported by Bukhosi bakaSiboshwa, Chief Inkhosi Nicolas Ngomane, and the local council of traditional healers.
Ngomane urged his community members to fully co-operative with the sprayers and allow them into their homes.
Mpumalanga News
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