Zambezi regional Faith Leader Advocacy for Malaria Elimination chairperson Benjamin Limbo says the malaria outbreak is worsening annually, with cases currently at 8 793. He adds that there have been seven deaths since January. The Zambezi region is one of the 10 malaria-endemic regions prone to malaria outbreaks. Limbo yesterday told The Namibian that over 315 patients are currently admitted with malaria, adding that malaria is the biggest threat to residents and visitors that come to the region at the moment. “The region experiences outbreaks annually because the health ministry has lost the vision of elimination and is instead focusing on controlling. They have indirectly accepted that malaria is a disease that has come to stay with us. “There are no deliberate policies aimed at accelerating the elimination of malaria. Malaria does not have to kill anyone in Namibia because it’s curable and preventable,” he said. Limbo further said the poor coordination between the regional and central government structures in terms of procurement and timely deliveries of malaria commodities is hampering the fight against malaria. “There is no intensive supervision on regional ministry malaria agents most of the time; they are busy with personal issues. The community is not well engaged to fully participate in the elimination efforts. Staff members are not adequately trained to offer the required standard of service, especially the spraying operators,” he said. Limbo said the health ministry should start putting their focus towards the elimination of malaria by allocating more resources to the Zambezi region to enable it to eliminate malaria. “Establish a well-functioning social and behavioural change communication focal office in the Zambezi region to disseminate information about malaria and constantly mobilise the community to be part of the programme. Set clear targets and goals on elimination, starting with short-term goals. This will assist in directing resources and efforts to what is important now. Draft and implement policies that are aimed at accelerating the elimination agenda,” he said. A senior nursing staff member, who spoke to The Namibian on condition of anonymity yesterday, said the hospital and some clinics are once again out of malaria medication, while other clinics and health centres are running critically low. “It’s a disaster at the moment. The management is playing with people’s lives because they wait until the medicine is finished to order more. However, it seems like the central medical stores are also out of antimalarial medication because the region received medicine yesterday but no malaria medicine,” the source said. Ministry executive director Ben Nangombe says he could not respond yesterday because he was attending a workshop and requested time to provide a comprehensive report at a later stage. The regional health director, Woitha Kapumburu, did not respond to questions sent to him. The post Zambezi malaria outbreak worsens, deaths reported amid drug shortages appeared first on The Namibian.

Namibia has recorded over 56 000 malaria cases and nearly 100 deaths in the past five months, prompting a nationwide response to contain the worsening outbreak. Minister of health and social services Esperance Luvindao says the country has recorded over 56 000 cases from January until 20 April. These recorded cases have led to 5 226 hospital admissions and 95 deaths, she says. “By 20 April 2025, Namibia reported 56 130 cases [of malaria], with 5 226 cases of admission and sadly 95 deaths. This is too many,” the minister says. Speaking during a Workers’ Day event at Oshakati yesterday, Luvindao said: “As we are all aware, the outbreak has occurred in 10 endemic regions, namely the Ohangwena, Kunene, Otjozondjupa, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Kavango West, Kavango East, Omaheke and Zambezi regions.” Luvindao said these cases also include border transmissions. Local transmissions stand at 45 649 cases, accounting for 81% of cases reported in Namibia, she said. “However, 10 466 cases were imported,” she said. The minister said the ministry is working alongside communities, partners, and other stakeholders to reduce the spread of malaria through preventative measures, as well as treatment. Luvindao said the country still has a number of patients presenting to healthcare facilities at a late stage and within the “complicated phase”. “This makes it difficult to treat and could lead to death,” she said. SYMPTOMS Malaria symptoms include fever, headaches, chills, shivering, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting, poor appetite, diarrhoea, tiredness, as well as fatigue. Luvindao said Namibians should not only look out for these signs and symptoms among themselves, but also ought to be the keepers of their neighbours. She said a contributing factor to the high prevalence of malaria is stagnant water around houses, in which mosquitoes breed. To prevent malaria, people should wear clothes that cover their arms and legs at night, she said. The minister encouraged people to use mosquito repellents, such as anti-mosquito creams and oils. ‘ALLOW INDOOR SPRAYING’ “Also close the windows and doors to avoid mosquitoes from entering rooms, and allow your house to be sprayed by the Ministry of Health and Social Services,” she said. Luvindao expressed concern over resistance to indoor residual spraying in some households, saying it is a crucial preventative measure. Other key strategies highlighted include the distribution of long-lasting insecticide-treated nets, the application of larvicide to standing water, and the removal of stagnant water sources. Clearing bushes and grass around homes was also emphasised as an important step in reducing mosquito breeding sites. The minister urged all Namibians, across all sectors, to unite in a determined national effort to combat this public health threat. “This is not only the task of the health ministry, but we ought to stand together, not just with the public sector, but also with the private sector to ensure we support each other in dealing with this public health threat,” she said. Luvindao stressed the importance of early treatment. OHANGWENA CRISIS The Namibian recently reported that nine people died from malaria in the Ohangwena region. The region is grappling with a severe malaria outbreak, with over 5 000 cases reported to date. The region’s health director, Robert Nandjila, says Eenhana is currently experiencing the highest concentration of malaria cases in the region, with many infections originating from areas near Namibia’s border with Angola. He says the challenges posed by inadequate healthcare facilities compel many malaria victims to seek treatment across the border in Namibia. “Angolan malaria patients are crossing into Namibia daily for treatment,” he says. Nandjila says in response to this public health crisis, the ministry has deployed three teams dedicated to combating malaria through several measures. The Zambezi region, which is also affected by malaria, reported about 1 891 new cases two weeks ago, bringing the total number of malaria cases to 15 371, with 14 deaths and 626 hospital admissions since January. Meanwhile, the Kavango West region recorded 11 598 cases until 20 April, with 10 deaths and 785 admitted patients. KAVANGO WEST BATTLE Kavango West health director Fransiska Hamutenya yesterday said the ministry has taken decisive measures apart from curative services, focusing on prevention. “We have teams in the field doing focus investigations, active spraying, as well as larviciding,” she said. “We have received vehicles from the agriculture and transport ministries, and from the Electoral Commission of Namibia,” Hamutenya said. She said the Namibia University of Science and Technology’s risk communication and community engagement students were deployed in the region for vector control. “Medical officers, nurses, pharmacists, data capturers and environmental health practitioners are deployed from other regions to assist. Permanent positions are filled as part of the response plan,” Hamutenya said. She said the region has adequate anti-malaria commodities. “No patient is sent home without medication and the pharmaceutical services department is working around the clock to ensure availability of commodities at all health facilities,” she said. Hamutenya said the region has few mosquito nets and more are needed. She raised concern about cross-border patients, transport, and people’s behaviour remaining challenges. “Despite our request for stakeholders to come on board, no assistance has been received so far. Transport remains the biggest challenge for the field teams,” Hamutenya said. She said community members often do not seek medical care in time. “Non-adherence to treatment leads to relapse and reinfection, as well as mosquito nets not being used for their intended purpose,” she said. Some people cover their vegetable gardens with the nets or use it for fishing, she said. CROSS-BORDER ISSUES The ministry is unable to do any field focus investigation or spraying activities on the other side of the border, Hamutenya said. “Local cases from villages like Katava, Savate, etc., have contributed to a high percentage of Nkurenkuru district’s cases.” She said the directorate has reached out to the Angolan consulate to arrange a meeting. “Facilities are reporting cases daily to the regional surveillance officer and to the national level for compilation of national data,” she said. KAVANGO EAST CHALLENGES According to Kavango East health director Idah Mendai, the region has made efforts to raise public awareness, improve cross-border engagement and reactivate indoor residual spraying. “The ministry is aware of the staff shortage, and has developed a recruitment process,” she says. Mendai says nurses, medical officers and other cadres from non-affected regions have been sent to assist in response to the outbreak. “At the moment we have sufficient drugs, especially oral drugs, but no mosquito nets in stock,” she says. “We are planning to hold a cross-border meeting soon. We have a high number of imported cases that were treated in our health facilities,” she says. The post Namibia hit by 56 000 malaria cases this year appeared first on The Namibian.

In 2023, there were an estimated 263 million malaria cases and 597,000 deaths globally, with the WHO African Region bearing 94% of cases and 95% of deaths, most of them among children under 5. Malaria...

Zambezi regional Faith Leader Advocacy for Malaria Elimination chairperson Benjamin Limbo says the malaria outbreak is worsening annually, with cases currently at 8 793. He adds that there have been seven deaths since January. The Zambezi region is one of the 10 malaria-endemic regions prone to malaria outbreaks. Limbo yesterday told The Namibian that over 315 patients are currently admitted with malaria, adding that malaria is the biggest threat to residents and visitors that come to the region at the moment. “The region experiences outbreaks annually because the health ministry has lost the vision of elimination and is instead focusing on controlling. They have indirectly accepted that malaria is a disease that has come to stay with us. “There are no deliberate policies aimed at accelerating the elimination of malaria. Malaria does not have to kill anyone in Namibia because it’s curable and preventable,” he said. Limbo further said the poor coordination between the regional and central government structures in terms of procurement and timely deliveries of malaria commodities is hampering the fight against malaria. “There is no intensive supervision on regional ministry malaria agents most of the time; they are busy with personal issues. The community is not well engaged to fully participate in the elimination efforts. Staff members are not adequately trained to offer the required standard of service, especially the spraying operators,” he said. Limbo said the health ministry should start putting their focus towards the elimination of malaria by allocating more resources to the Zambezi region to enable it to eliminate malaria. “Establish a well-functioning social and behavioural change communication focal office in the Zambezi region to disseminate information about malaria and constantly mobilise the community to be part of the programme. Set clear targets and goals on elimination, starting with short-term goals. This will assist in directing resources and efforts to what is important now. Draft and implement policies that are aimed at accelerating the elimination agenda,” he said. A senior nursing staff member, who spoke to The Namibian on condition of anonymity yesterday, said the hospital and some clinics are once again out of malaria medication, while other clinics and health centres are running critically low. “It’s a disaster at the moment. The management is playing with people’s lives because they wait until the medicine is finished to order more. However, it seems like the central medical stores are also out of antimalarial medication because the region received medicine yesterday but no malaria medicine,” the source said. Ministry executive director Ben Nangombe says he could not respond yesterday because he was attending a workshop and requested time to provide a comprehensive report at a later stage. The regional health director, Woitha Kapumburu, did not respond to questions sent to him. The post Zambezi malaria outbreak worsens, deaths reported amid drug shortages appeared first on The Namibian.

Muyombo Limota was busy fixing a car when he received the call that would change his life. The villager from Sesheke, a border town in Zambia’s Western Province, says his brother called him on 22 March, telling him his daughter, Edna (15), died due to malaria complications. Limoto says “things went blank after that”. “I couldn’t breathe, it was like a very bad dream. I still think about that call and how if I didn’t answer it, then maybe it wouldn’t be true,” he says. Limota says Edna, who stayed with her grandmother, started displaying malaria symptoms on 17 March and was taken to Sesheke Clinic. She tested positive for malaria and received antimalarial medication. “When we saw there were no improvement in her condition, we took her back to the clinic, and she was tested again. She still tested positive for malaria. “They could not give her more medicine, as that treatment can only be given to her after 28 days. They gave her paracetamol and referred her to the hospital,” Limota says. He says he can’t stop thinking about his daughter being full of life just a week before – going to school, playing in netball tournaments, and attending church choir practice. PAINFUL REMINDER Whenever he sees Edna’s friends at the village, it serves as a painful reminder of how she used to laugh with them. “I still can’t believe it. I lost my daughter within a week’s time. Malaria robbed her of her hopes and dreams,” he says. Limota says his six other children give him the strength to carry on, although the pain is sometimes unbearable. “Not a day passes that I don’t think about her. My family tries to console me, but whenever I’m alone, everything comes rushing back. Life will never be the same,” he says. HOTSPOT The Sesheke area has been identified as a malaria hotspot by the Zambezi regional health directorate, as many farmers have been subject to mosquito bites while camping out at their crop fields. One such farmer is Briliant Musiwa, who says he has been camping out day and night for the past four months to scare off elephants and hippos destroying his crops. The farmer, who has ploughed about eight hectares of maize and two hectares of sorghum, says he has no choice if he wants to yield a good harvest. While they are guarding their fields against giant animals, they also need to take precautionary measures against malaria. However, many crop farmers are unable to afford mosquito nets and repellents. Their only protection against malaria is early treatment, indoor residual spraying and mosquito nets provided to vulnerable communities by the government. Despite Musiwa receiving a mosquito net, he says the little insects still get a taste of his blood. He tested positive for malaria in February, and it took him about three weeks to recover from severe infection, he says. “It could only be that I tested positive for malaria because whenever I make rounds in the field to check for the presence of wildlife, I walk through swarms of mosquitoes. “They sneak into my net as soon as I get up to do my rounds. The whole night I toss and turn as I try to beat them off,” he says. After he recovered, Musiwa went back to camp at his field again, and his chances of a reinfection are high. RISKING LIVES FOR FOOD “I know I’m risking my life. But if I do not guard my fields, my family won’t eat. There is treatment, so I will seek medicine early, like I did last time,” he says. In the Sachona area, Joseph Maemeko says he has tested positive for malaria twice already, as he too is guarding his four hectares of mahangu. He, however, has no net to protect himself. “There are so many mosquitoes, even during the day they are biting me. I hear people are dying of malaria, and I also thought I was going to die, especially when I got infected for the second time. “But staying at my field is the only way I will yield a harvest to feed my family,” he says. Limota is not the only parent grieving a child due to malaria. THE NUMBERS The Ministry of Health and Social Services’ national statistics reveal that about 64 children from under the age of 19 have died due to malaria since December last year. Health ministry spokesperson Walters Kamaya says the ministry has recorded 23 deaths of children between the ages five to nine, accounting for 17% of malaria deaths recorded countrywide. He says about 132 malaria deaths have been reported countrywide in the 0 to 75 year age group since December. “Last week eight new deaths were reported from Rundu, Nkurenkuru, Oshakati, and Outapi. The 5 921 new malaria cases reported countrywide were from Katima Mulilo, Nkurenkuru, Andara, Outapi, and Nyangana, respectively,” Kamaya says. He says 76 195 cases have been reported to date, with the Zambezi region having the highest number of cases, with 21 044, and 18 deaths. “About 58% of the cases are men, while 42% are women, out of which 3% (429) are pregnant women countrywide,” he says. CHALLENGES Kamaya highlights the challenges that hamper the ministry’s preventive efforts, such as inadequate vehicles to accommodate all response activities and insufficient information technology equipment and gadgets for data capturing and reporting. He says patients also seek medical attention late and lack long-lasting treated insecticidal nets in the affected districts. “Data backlog in some districts still not fully cleared, periodic stock out of pharmaceutical commodities in some health facilities, inadequate pharmacists in some affected regions to meet the demand, and the unavailability of resources to conduct entomological surveillance in all selected sentinel sites,” he says. Kamaya urges communities to take continuous preventive measures such as sleeping under insecticide-treated mosquito nets at night, closing windows and doors early, clearing stagnant water around homes, cutting tall grass and bushes around households, using mosquito repellents or sprays indoors where possible, and allowing their homes to be sprayed by indoor residual spraying teams. “Furthermore, they should seek testing and treatment early if they present with fever, chills, or body aches. Do not self-medicate or rely on traditional remedies alone – get tested and receive the right treatment from trained healthcare workers. “Complete the full course of malaria medication even if you feel better before finishing it. Do not share the treatment given to you with another person,” he says. The post ‘Malaria robbed my daughter of her youth’ appeared first on The Namibian.

Niël Terblanché The country  is currently grappling with a surge in malaria cases, with the Ministry of Health and Social Services reporting a total of 20 135 cases as of 9 March 2025. Dr Kalumbi Shangula, the former Minister of Health and Social Services, said last week that 3 890 of these cases were recorded in the first few days of March alone. He added that the outbreak, declared in December 2024, has resulted in 44 fatalities so far. “The most affected health districts include Katima Mulilo, Andara, Nkurenkuru, Outapi, Engela, Eenhana, Okongo, and Nyangana,” he said. Shangula said that the health ministry in collaboration with various stakeholders, has been actively engaged in response activities aimed at saving lives, educating the public, and containing the spread of malaria. He acknowledged the Rössing Foundation as a key partner in these efforts, noting their recent contribution of essential items to enhance the national response. The Rössing Foundation’s donation, valued at N$1.5 million, includes 150 spray pumps, 1 200 long-lasting insecticidal-treated mosquito nets, and medical equipment and tools designated for the Olukupa Health Clinic in the Oshikoto Region. Shangula expressed his gratitude and extended his heartfelt appreciation to The Rössing Foundation for their unwavering commitment to public health and for standing with us in this critical fight against malaria. “Your contribution today not only provides the tools necessary for an immediate response but also exemplifies the spirit of collaboration that is crucial to our success,” he said. The Rössing Foundation, established by the Rössing Uranium Mine, has a longstanding history of supporting community health initiatives. Their recent donation underscores their dedication to public health and their role as a vital ally in combating malaria in Namibia. The former minister said that malaria remains a pressing public health challenge in Namibia, particularly during the rainy season when transmission rates escalate. He added that the health ministry will continue to implement various interventions, including indoor residual spraying, distribution of insecticide-treated nets, and public awareness campaigns to educate communities about preventive measures. “The collaborative efforts between the government and stakeholders like the Rössing Foundation are pivotal in addressing the current outbreak. Such partnerships enhance resource mobilisation and ensure that interventions reach the most affected and vulnerable populations,” he said. Shangula added that the collective actions of public and private entities offer a robust response for mitigating the impact of malaria and safeguarding the health of Namibians. He urged the public to remain vigilant, use preventive tools such as mosquito nets, and seek prompt medical attention if malaria symptoms arise.