KONGOLA- Health minister Dr Kalumbi Shangula has raised alarm over a serious malaria outbreak in Namibia, particularly in the Zambezi region. 

The minister yesterday revealed Zambezi has recorded 3 385 cases and one death since January 2025. 

He outlined the urgent need for intensified efforts to combat the disease. 

“Malaria is endemic in 10 out of Namibia’s 14 regions. While we have made progress, we must do more to achieve zero malaria transmissions,” Shangula stated. 

He said government’s Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) campaign, launched on 14 August 2024, is a key intervention in the fight against the spread of malaria. 

The minister, however, expressed disappointment over community resistance to the campaign. 

“Many households are refusing our spray teams entry, leaving their homes as reservoirs for mosquitoes and sources of malaria,” he expressed. 

The doctor reassured the public that the new insecticide being used is harmless to people and called on traditional leaders to persuade their communities to cooperate. 

As part of efforts to strengthen healthcare access, Shangula announced plans to construct a health centre in Kongola, ensuring that communities in the region receive essential medical services closer to home. 

-anakale@nepc.com.na