Tendai Muererwa
Mutare – Manicaland has intensified efforts to control malaria amid outbreaks in several districts, with health authorities calling for stronger community participation in prevention, early detection and treatment.
The call was made during a malaria stakeholder meeting in Mutare aimed at strengthening multi-sectoral efforts to prevent and control the disease. The fight brought together stakeholders from Government ministries and departments non-governmental organisations and other sectors to build local partnerships, raise awareness of malaria risks and promote community ownership in the fight against the disease.
Health Promotion Officer for Mutare District, Sophia Nezandonyi said the meeting was designed to equip stakeholders with information they could take back to their workplaces and communities. She said stakeholders from sectors such as agriculture and mining had an important role to play in mobilising communities, raising awareness about malaria risks and encouraging people to seek prompt treatment.
“Stakeholders from different ministries, departments and non-governmental organisations have a role to play. Those who are present here have to share the information with their workmates and communities and take part in malaria control,” Nezandonyi said.
She said communities and workers should also participate in vector control initiatives, particularly in areas where mining and other activities create conditions favourable for mosquito breeding. Manicaland is among the provinces with a high malaria burden, with outbreaks being reported in several districts and health facilities.
Chimanimani, Chipinge, Nyanga and Mutasa are among the worst affected areas, with outbreaks reported at various health facilities. The province is also battling the spread of Anopheles funestus, a mosquito species resistant to some insecticides, making malaria control more difficult.
Excessive rainfall followed by periods of sunshine has created favourable breeding conditions for mosquitoes, while the province’s proximity to Mozambique, high temperatures, rivers, streams, wetlands and other water bodies also contribute to malaria transmission.
Mining areas have emerged as particular areas of concern because stagnant water created through mining activities can provide breeding sites for mosquitoes. In Mutare District, indoor residual spraying (IRS) remains one of the key vector control strategies and normally begins around September ahead of the rainy season.
Nezandonyi said the intervention had significantly reduced malaria cases in some hotspot areas, citing Bema Valley as an example. “Previously, we used to see more than 1 000 cases in Bema Valley, but because of indoor residual spraying, the cases have reduced. As of this year, Bema Valley has been reporting fewer than 20 cases a week, showing that the strategy is working,” she said.
However, she said mining areas such as Odzi and Chiadzwa remained malaria hotspots and required continued attention. Authorities are encouraging communities in affected areas to take greater responsibility for eliminating mosquito breeding sites and protecting themselves from mosquito bites.
Nezandonyi urged people experiencing suspected malaria symptoms to seek treatment promptly at health facilities or approach community health workers, who are trained to test and treat malaria.
She said patients who delayed seeking treatment risked developing complications, adding that serious cases were referred to Mutare District Referral Centre at Victoria Chitepo Hospital. “People should promptly seek treatment to avoid complications and deaths. Malaria is treatable,” she said.
She also warned members of the public against buying malaria medication from people selling drugs on the streets, saying patients should instead visit health facilities where malaria testing and treatment are provided free of charge.
The meeting also highlighted the importance of involving traditional and religious leaders in malaria prevention campaigns, particularly in rural communities where access to health facilities can be difficult.
Community health workers have also been deployed to remote and hard to reach areas to conduct malaria testing, administer treatment and follow up patients. Children under five remain particularly vulnerable to malaria because of their developing immune systems and limited acquired immunity, making prevention and early treatment especially important.
Health authorities said malaria prevention should not be treated as a seasonal activity, urging communities to remain vigilant throughout the year. They called on all sectors to become part of the malaria response, saying collective action, community participation and early intervention could significantly reduce infections and prevent further loss of life.
