Festus Hamalwa

The Ohangwena region has reported about 349 new cases of malaria this month, compared to 126 cases recorded during the corresponding period last year. 

Regional health director Johannes Hango said for the whole of last year, 930 cases and one death due to malaria were registered. 

Despite the notable increase in new cases, no death has been reported due to malaria in the region thus far. 

According to Hango, the concentration trend of cases remained the same, as the affected villages are mostly those alongside the border with Angola. 

“Malaria prevalence in the region was stable in 2021, as we have not experienced an
outbreak. There was a notable increase in cases for the first two weeks of January 2022. Immediately, the region dispatched case-tracing teams to houses where cases are coming from and conducted tests on every person living in the house with the infected person,” he explained. 

He said there is a challenge of patients providing incorrect residential addresses, which makes it difficult for health workers to visit these places for further investigation. 

“Above all, transparency and truthfulness aid towards malaria elimination by providing correct information as requested by healthcare workers in order to successfully trace all malaria positive cases and to cut the transmission chain of the malaria disease,” he stressed. 

Hango said the team also assesses the areas for possible breeding sites and unhygienic environments, which can be hiding places for mosquitoes. 

“The team gave health education to the community on behavioural change and also advised them to clean their house surroundings, which can be possible breeding sites for mosquitoes,” he added.

- fhamalwa@nepc.com.na