A TOTAL of 131 people have so far succumbed to malaria
since the beginning of the year countrywide and more than 135 000 malaria cases
having been reported in the first quarter of this year, the Ministry of Health
and Child Care has said.
This comes at a time when the country is set to join the
world in commemorating world malaria day on Saturday.
In a statement on its twitter account, the Ministry of
Health and Child Care said 18 690 malaria cases and 17 deaths were reported
this week alone.
“The cumulative figures for malaria are 135 585 and 131
deaths. A total 201 malaria outbreaks have been reported throughout the country
mostly from malaria provinces such as Manicaland, Masvingo and Mashonaland
East,” said the Ministry.
Matabeleland South province has this year recorded an
increase in malaria cases with eight deaths recorded in Gwanda and Beitbridge
districts since the beginning of the year.
Ministry of Health and Child Care officials in Matabeleland
South said teams have been deployed to affected areas to collect further
information on the drivers of infection and have dispelled myths that the
malaria cases and deaths in the province are associated with Covid-19.
In an interview last week, Matabeleland South provincial
environmental health officer, Mr Notho Dube said 900 malaria cases were
recorded in the province over the past two months.
He said communities were however panicking as they were
confusing cases of malaria with those of Covid-19.
“Rumours were now spreading that the people who died in
Gwanda as a result of malaria had succumbed to Covid-19 which isn’t true.
“People should clearly differentiate between symptoms of
malaria and Covid- 19. When it comes to Covid-19 one has fever, cough, sneezes,
difficulty in breathing but when it’s malaria one will have a headache, fever,
joint pains and abdominal pains,” he said. Herald
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