Africa-Press – Botswana. This year’s Malaria outbreak has undermined Botswana’s objectives of achieving zero Malaria cases, according to Assistant Minister of Health, Mr Lawrence Ookeditse.
Mr Ookeditse was speaking during a kgotla meetin in Gumare to give an update on the Malaria outbreak in Okavango District.
He emphasised the need for a collective community response to combat the Malaria, highlighting the government’s role in supporting affected individuals and managing regions more vulnerable to the disease.
Initiatives include, he said increasing the distribution of mosquito nets and enhancing public awareness campaigns on Malaria through various platforms.
Mr Ookeditse urged the public to embrace Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) as a critical method for controlling malaria transmissions. He also noted that the government was collaborating with other countries and international organisations to bolster efforts in the fight against malaria.
Additionally, Mr Ookeditse warned against self-diagnosis and the use of readily available medications, stating that such practices could delay the detection and treatment of malaria at its early stages.
He reiterated that timely medical intervention was crucial, not only for individual recovery but also for assisting health staff in contact tracing.
“Malaria is indeed curable, but it can lead to fatalities if not treated properly,” he cautioned, revealing that the country has recorded eight deaths due to Malaria.
Mr Ookeditse called on residents to adopt preventive measures, such as using mosquito nets, maintaining clean homesteads by trimming grass, and eliminating stagnant water to remove malaria breeding grounds.
As of April 17, the Okavango District has reported the highest number of Malaria cases in the country, with a total of 1 400 out of 1 968 confirmed countrywide. The northern regions continue to be the most impacted, with specific case counts including 1 400 in Okavango, 172 in North West, 130 in Chobe, 64 in Gantsi, 62 in Tutume, and 34 in Boteti.
In response to the outbreak, Gumare Primary Hospital matron Ms Batho Rampana said that the Gumare catchment area, previously free of malaria for two years, has this year started to register infections.
Focusing on demographics, Ms Rampana reported that children and adult males were the most affected groups in Okavango.
She shared some challenges faced in the fight against malaria, including public resistance to IRS in homes, inadequacies in house structures suitable for spraying in cattle posts, improper use of bed nets, and increasing stagnant water bodies.
Malaria symptoms include fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach ache, and headache. Ms Rampana urged community members to seek medical attention upon experiencing any of these signs.
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