MBOMBELA – The Mpumalanga MEC for Health, Sasekani Manzini, reported a remarkable decline in malaria cases in the province during the World Malaria Day commemoration.
The event, which is annually celebrated on April 25, took place at the Nutting House on May 2, bringing together distinguished guests, including traditional leaders and healthcare practitioners who collaborate with the Department of Health in the fight against malaria.
In her keynote address, MEC Manzini highlighted the significant progress, noting that malaria cases dropped from 2,578 last year to just 1,067 this year, representing a remarkable 59% decrease. “We are doing very well in the province as far as malaria is concerned. We’ve registered 2,578 cases in the previous financial year and only recorded 1,067 cases this year, which is a 59% decrease. This means we’re doing very well as a province in combating the disease,” she said.
The province’s malaria control efforts, including Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) and community awareness campaigns, have proven effective. MEC Manzini attributed the success to the collaboration between the Department of Health and traditional leaders.
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“Notably, the province has seen a significant decline in malaria-related deaths, from 21 last financial year to just three this year, with one case each in the Bushbuckridge, Mbombela, and Nkomazi municipalities. This underscores the effectiveness of our collaborative efforts with traditional authorities and practitioners, yielding positive outcomes,” she added.
The MEC emphasised the importance of continued collaboration in the fight against malaria, highlighting the department’s efforts in providing better treatment compared to the private sector. “We’ve made significant strides in raising awareness and providing effective treatment for malaria, which is driving our positive results. I believe that our healthcare facilities outperform the private sector in treating it, as evident in our statistics,” she noted.
The significant decline in malaria cases in Mpumalanga is a testament to the province’s commitment to eliminating the disease. The Department of Health remains focused on achieving its goal of malaria elimination, with ongoing efforts to strengthen health systems and engage communities in malaria prevention and control initiatives.
