Malaria cases decline in Salima District

 Salima district malaria coordinator Frank Linzi says malaria cases have declined by 30 000 since January, courtesy of Save the Children interventions.

Speaking on Wednesday during a malaria open day at Juma Village in Traditional Authority Maganga, he said: “In January this year the district registered 44 000 malaria cases but in March the figure dropped to 10 235.

“Last year, 144 people died from the disease but so far this year only five deaths have been registered. This shows that communities are using appropriate preventive measures.”

Linzi said Save the Children, through the  Breakthrough Action Health Project, created community health action groups and beach health action groups to operate along Lake Malawi shores to raise awareness and distribute mosquito nets.

Save the Children Break Through Action Health Project programme manager Victor Kadzinje said the health action groups have helped them to reach to at least 55 000 people with malaria messages.

He said: “We have strengthened linkages between local structures and health facilities where they are able to collect data and use it for planning.

“We have created health action groups to raise awareness malaria prevention.”

Kadzinje also said they have introduced competitions among villages and schools in hygiene and sanitation.

He said: “Villages that follow best hygiene and sanitation practices and ensure that their subjects sleep under mosquito nets and follow other preventative measures, win items such as wheelbarrows, mosquito nets, shovels, pots, cups, plates and machetes.”

Village head Maganga commended Save the Children for the initiative.

With funding from USaid, Save the Children is implementing a Breakthrough Action Health Project in the district.