Malaria still health burden—Minister

 Minister of Health Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda has said malaria remains a major health burden in Malawi accounting for 25 percent of deaths.

Speaking in Senior Chief Nthondo’s area in Ntchisi District yesterday when she presided over World Malaria Day commemorations, the minister said this creates a huge workload for health workers and puts pressure on drugs at health facilities.

According to Chiponda, Malawi in 2023 recorded 6.4 million malaria cases, an increase from 4.2 million in 2022, but deaths decreased from 1829 in 2022 to 1670 in 2023.

She attributed the increase in malaria cases to various climatic shocks including Cyclone Freddy last year, adding the ministry is lobbying the World Health Organisation (WHO) to roll out the malaria vaccine in all the country’s districts.

Said Chiponda: “I am also encouraging parents in the 11 districts where we are administering this vaccine to ensure their children take all four doses starting from five months.”

In his remarks, Unicef Malawi chief of social policy Mathew Tasker said efforts continue to increase the uptake of preventative treatments, especially among vulnerable populations such as pregnant women and children including malaria immunisation.

WHO national professional officer for malaria and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) Michael Kayange said the organisation has through various interventions averted 2.1 billion malaria cases and prevented 11.7 million malaria deaths between 2000 to 2022.

World Malaria Day is observed on April 25