Malaria claims six lives during first week of 2023

Harare (New Ziana)-At least six people have succumbed to malaria since the beginning of the year, the Ministry of Health and Child Care has said.

In a weekly disease surveillance report, the Ministry said 1 950 malaria cases had been recorded countrywide.

“Weekly Disease Surveillance Report for the week ending 8 January 2023, 1 950 malaria cases and 6 deaths have been reported since the beginning of the year. The deaths reported were from Sally Mugabe Central Hospital (3), Mutare District (2) and Makonde District (1).

“Of the reported cases 212 were from under the age of 5. The provinces that recorded the highest number of cases are Mashonaland Central Province (587) and Manicaland Province (429),”it said.

According to the World Health Organisation, deaths from the mosquito-borne disease are rising for the first time in three years.

In 2021, the WHO endorsed the first-ever malaria vaccine, the protein-based RTS,S/AS01.

Finding more effective inoculations against malaria has been a critical goal in fighting a disease that killed almost half a million African children in 2020, with most being under the age of five.

Meanwhile, the Ministry said 6 839 common diarrhoea cases and 8 deaths were also recorded.

“Five of the deaths reported were from Sally Mugabe, While Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, North western District in Harare Province and Mangwe District in Matabeleland South Province reported 1 death each.

“Of the reported cases 2 782 were under the age of 5. The provinces that reported the highest number of diarrhea cases were Mashonaland East Province which reported 1 384 and Manicaland Province (1 245),” it said.

New Ziana