The Minister of Health Dr Bernard Haufiku said on Friday it is possible for Namibia to be malaria free within a decade.
Statistics from the health ministry show Namibia has progressed significantly in the fight against malaria over the years.
The country recorded around 1 700 malaria deaths in 2004 but last year only 84 malaria deaths were recorded.
Similarly, malaria incidences declined considerably, down from 285 per 1 000 population in 2014.
Furthermore, the country registered a total of 15 543 cases last year.
“The declines in incidence of malaria recorded in Namibia have placed us in a group of four Southern African countries identified as having the potential to eliminate malaria in the next ten years,” he said at the commemoration of World Malaria Day.
Along with Botswana, South Africa and Swaziland, Namibia will now work towards attaining zero local transmission of malaria as part of a sub-regional strategy to see the disease completely eliminated from Southern Africa, Haufiku said.
“It is a humbling and gratifying experience to witness this transition and to reflect upon where we have come from in terms of malaria control,” Haufiku said.
The World Health Organisation (WHO)’s Child Adolescent Health Officer in Namibia, Dr Mary Brantuo, at the occasion commended the health ministry and development partners involved in the fight against malaria for the “remarkable and commendable achievements. The strong commitment of all stakeholders to combat malaria in Namibia has paid off.”
Namibia is among the few countries in Sub-Saharan Africa where the government is contributing significantly towards malaria control.
The event was observed under the theme “Invest in the future: Defeat Malaria.”