Malaria killing More People Than COVID-19 In Sub Saharan Africa-Expert

Former Namibian Minister of Health, Richard Kamwi, has said that Malaria continues to kill more people in Namibia and the Sub-Saharan Africa than COVID-19 and there is a need to curb it,

Kamwi, who is also the Southern African Elimination 8 anti-malaria ambassador, said on Thursday.

According to him, both COVID-19 and malaria are deadly and need to be treated with persistence.

He said Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique and Zimbabwe are currently experiencing a sharp increase of malaria cases while experiencing COVID-19 challenges.

“The sharp increase in malaria numbers could be because of resistance to drugs. For us to avert mortality rates from malaria there is need for availing of support to the ministry as well as consider putting malaria fighting mechanisms together with COVID-19,” Kamwi said.

He said malaria remains a major threat among Namibian societies because of high breeding areas for mosquitoes.

Kamwi also donated a consignment of anti-malaria drugs from Elimination 8 group of countries to Namibia to help alleviate the spread of the disease.

Receiving the donation, Namibian Minister of Health and Social Services Kalumbi Shangula said Namibia will continue to work closely with the SADC Elimination 8 group to reduce the spread of malaria.

“We are here to witness a partnership in fighting the spread of malaria and Namibia will continue to prioritize the anti-malaria drive and also work with partners,” Shangula said.