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WHO hails Zanzibar anti-malaria campaign
2006-09-07 09:07:42
By Issa Yussuf, Zanzibar
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has hailed efforts to combat malaria in Zanzibar. The assessment team from the WHO comprising Dr Shiva Murugasampillay and Dr John Govere said the isle had recorded remarkable achievement.
’’We have been here for the last three days to see efforts by Zanzibar in combating malaria. At least by now, we conclude that Zanzibar has done well in all stages,” Dr Murugasampillay said.
’’The good planning, arrangement, field work, good team work, and commitment, have all produced good results.
But what is more impressing is that all groups- political and community leaders including religious - have been working together in controlling malaria on the island,’’ Dr Govere observed.
The medics said there was need to improve transport or communication to smoothen the anti-malaria Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) exercise which started in July.
The WHO officials also acknowledged the support from development partners including USAID, the government of Italy and UN organisations in supporting Zanzibar.
’’In a few years to come, malaria will be history. We are determined to wipe out malaria and we hope to win,’’ the isles’ minister for Health and Social Welfare, Sultani Mohamed Mugheiry, told the WHO delegation.
The minister was optimistic that Zanzibar could soon be a role model for many countries in the fight against malaria.
Zanzibar Malaria Control Programme (ZMCP) team leader Dr Mahdi Mohamed said Malaria in Zanzibar was expected to reduce tremendously after the IRS exercise.
Zanzibar’s success in the anti-malaria crusade is attributed to the use of insecticide treated mosquito nets (ITNs), environmental cleanliness campaign, use of combined drugs in treating malaria, and the current indoor spraying.
Thousands of ITNs have been distributed free of charge to pregnant mothers and children under the age of five.
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