Malaria cases on the increase in northern Namibia

Niël Terblanché A shortage of materials and equipment for testing malaria infections in northern Namibia has raised concerns about the rapid spread of the disease. Recent rains have led to stormwater pooling in low-lying areas, creating new breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Since the beginning of the year, the Ohangwena Region alone has recorded 392 malaria cases. Health authorities in the region confirmed a shortage of testing equipment and materials, struggling with resupply from central medical stores for the past two months. Currently, medical facility staff are forced to rely on microscopes in laboratories to detect parasites in the blood of…