Hertta-Maria Amutenja
The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) is calling for support from all sectors to address the malaria outbreak in the northern regions of the country.
In an interview with DesertFM on Monday, the MoHSS’s executive director, Ben Nangombe said the ministry is faced with a limited hospital capacity challenge.
“We are facing space constraints for admitting patients due to the large number of cases,” Nangombe said.
He added that the ministry engaged the Disaster Risk Management Committee in the Office of the Prime Minister about a week ago to mobilise additional support from other ministries, agencies, and corporate partners.
Nangombe said the ministry is also seeking assistance from the Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs, among other stakeholders, to help manage the outbreak.
“We are engaging the Ministry of Defence to possibly provide nurses and doctors. We are also reaching out to the Office of the Prime Minister to consider using tents, typically set up during flooding emergencies, to serve as temporary treatment facilities.” Nangombe explained
He said the ministry continues to test individuals who show symptoms of malaria.
In the meantime, the ministry is also reassigning health professionals internally to address the growing demand, according to Nangombe.
“We are rearranging health professionals within the ministry and public health sector to assist,” said Nangombe.
The ministry has reported a surge in malaria cases, with 5 898 infections, 840 hospital admissions, and 28 deaths recorded by 19 January.
According to Nangombe, by 15 December 2024, 16 districts had already crossed epidemic thresholds, with Eenhana and Okongo accounting for the largest shares of cases at 30% and 15%, respectively.
Nangombe noted that 58% of cases were locally transmitted, while 42% were imported from neighbouring Angola.
The areas most affected include Eenhana, Okongo, Engela, Nkurenkuru, and Outapi.
Nangombe said the ministry has intensified public health interventions, including reactive indoor residual spraying, which was initially completed in December but is now being revisited in high-risk areas.
“We are going back again to some localities where the cases are increasing,” Nangombe said.
He has expressed concern for households that are reducing the spraying teams to enter their homestead.
While these efforts are underway, Nangombe advised the public in malaria-prone areas to adhere to preventive measures, particularly the correct use of mosquito nets.
“You need to use the mosquito nets provided correctly, otherwise, they will not be effective, and mosquitoes will continue to bite, causing the spread of malaria,” Nangombe said.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs has confirmed that it has not yet been asked to assist with the ongoing malaria outbreak.
Colonel Petrus Shilumbu, spokesperson for the defence ministry, explained that they have not been engaged in the planned response efforts yet.
