Malaria Still Number One Killer In Zambia

Research by the End Malaria Council in Western Province shows that the disease remains the number one cause of death in Zambia and that the country needs to come up with new ideas to combat it.

Speaking during a review meeting with the Faith Leaders Advocacy for Malaria Elimination

(FLAME), End Malaria Chairperson Fred Mulozi said the fight against malaria could not be left to his organisation alone and that all stakeholders should take responsibility in eliminating the disease.

Last year, Zambia recorded 7.2 million cases of malaria, leading to 1,875 people dying from the disease.

At the same meeting, Constance Njovu of the Isdell Flowers Cross Border Malaria Initiative praised the church in Zambia for its efforts in fighting the disease, adding that preachers had a big role to play because of their influence in local communities. 

“There is [a] need to utilise the church leaders in combatting malaria because there has been an improvement in adherence, mosquito net distribution and indoor residue spraying in communities as knowledge has increase and is being utilised,” she said. 

FLAME’s Chairperson for Western Province, Fr. Wilfred Hodari, said communities were responding well to the fight against malaria, with more families allowing their homes to be sprayed and using mosquito nets to sleep at night.