By Staff Reporter
As part of the global exertions to accelerate progress towards malaria elimination in society,
the Northern Cape Health MEC, Maruping Lekwene joins the international
communities in commemorating World Malaria Day (25 April) by providing education on malaria, as
well as spreading information on its control, prevention and treatment strategies.
This year’s World Malaria Day is commemorated under the theme, “Harness innovation to
reduce the malaria disease burden and save lives.” This theme calls for investments and
innovation that brings new vector control approaches, diagnostics, antimalarial medicines and
other tools to speed the pace of progress against malaria.
It must be noted that the provincial health department continues to implement its
environmental health malaria control plan to prevent the re-introduction of malaria in the
Northern Cape. The province generally maintained more than 95% coverage on
immunisation programme and sometimes more than 100% due to the cross-boundary influx
at the time.
Despite heavy rainfall endured of late in the Northern Cape, resulting in more stagnant water
especially in the northern parts of the province, there has been no case of local acquired
malaria reported to date. We have further strengthened our health promotion campaign for
people to be aware of the symptoms and dangers of malaria, as part of the “continuation of
essential health services” during and post COVID-19 pandemic.
Our provincial environmental health unit continues to perform quarterly vector surveillance
and breeding place identification campaigns in an area of 400 metres around Upington
International Airport to prevent any possible cases of malaria due to mosquitoes imported by
aircrafts arriving from malaria-endemic areas. This approach is in line with the global malaria
strategy and will drastically contribute positively towards reducing malaria incidence and
mortality universally by at least 90% in 2030.
In 2015, a study conducted revealed that an estimated 214 million new cases of malaria and
438, 000 deaths occurred mainly in sub-Saharan Africa. It further details that about 3.2 billion
people are at risk of malaria, globally. Significant to note that Malaria in South Africa is
seasonal (Transmission occurring between September and May) and we urge anyone
suspected of having malaria, to immediately consult their health service provider or visit any
of our healthcare facilities to be tested and treated.
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