FORUM FOR HEALTH WRITERS The Forum for Health Writers is a network of Zambian journalists and communications specialists whose goal is to improve media coverage and public understanding of health issues. For more information contact, Zarina Geloo at zgeloo@knight.org.
HEALTH RESOURCES: Global Health Facts: www.globalhealthfacts.org Zambia Ministry of Health: www.moh.gov.zm The World Health Organization: www.who.int USAID Zambia: www.usaid.gov/zm
Zambia Health Reporter V O L U M E
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February 15, 2011
Experts lay out plan to make Zambia malaria free Malaria experts in Zambia are confident that the country will soon become a malaria free zone following an aggressive campaign to keep the number one killer disease at bay. Dr. Victor Mukonka, Director of Public Health and Research at the Ministry of Health (MoH), told journalists at a February 4 th briefing organized by the Forum for Health Writers that the capital city, Lusaka, had already become a malaria free zone and other places were showing reduced numbers of malaria incidences. He said years of investment in research and interventions were yielding positive results following a firm commitment by successive Governments in fighting malaria. In 2009 there were about 3 million cases of malaria, a reduction from about 4 million in the previous year. “Zambia remains committed to the fight against malaria as evidenced by a strong political will and leadership, increased financial resources, strengthened and well coordinated partnership and improved community engagement,” Dr. Mukonka said. Optimism about Zambia's chances of attaining its goal of reaching 80 percent of the population with prevention and treatment measures is seen in the high level of cooperation taking place between government, local NGOs and international donors, which include the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the World Bank and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Continued on page 2
JOURNALISM RESOURCES: International Center for Journalists (ICFJ): www.icfj.org International Journalists’ Network (IJNet): www.ijnet.org The Poynter Institute: www.poynter.org The Kaiser Foundation:
World Malaria Day is April 25th, 2011! World Malaria Day - instituted by the World Health Assembly in May 2007 - is a day for recognizing the global effort to provide effective control of malaria. Approximately half of the world's population is at risk of malaria. It infects more than 500 million people per year and kills more than 1 million. The burden of malaria is heaviest in sub-Saharan Africa. In 2009, Zambia had 2,976,395 cases of malaria including 1,514,080 affecting children under the age of five (according to the World Health Organization).
www.kff.org
Tel: +26 01 28 24 84 www.nmcc.org.zm
National Malaria Control Centre Chainama Hospital College Grounds Lusaka, Zambia
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“In 2011, the Ministry expects to distribute more than 20,000 indoor treatment nets in Luapula, Eastern and Northern provinces, the areas that have the highest malaria incidences.”
Giving examples of some interventions to prevent malaria, Cecelia Katebe, who is principal Indoor Treatment Nets (ITNs) officer, said scaling up ITNs use was one of the major priorities of the National Malaria Strategic Plan. Full coverage targets had been set to adequately cover all households at risk of malaria in Zambia. The MoH has launched door-todoor campaigns on the use of ITNs with the support of neighbourhood health committees to increase coverage in all districts in Zambia. In 2011, the Ministry expects to distribute more than 20,000 ITNs in Luapula, Eastern and Northern provinces, the areas that have the highest malaria incidences. Studies have shown that when used widely in a community, ITNs significantly reduced severe malaria, anemia, and all causes of mortality in young children and pregnant women. But Ms. Katebe spoke of challenges in communities who are suspicious of the nets and do not believe they can kill mosquitoes, others complain of feeling claustrophobic and others use the net for other things- like wedding dresses. Case Management Officer Chadwick Sikaala told the journalists that Indoor residual spraying (IRS) was another successful intervention used in the prevention of malaria. In 2010, Indoor spraying reached about 1.1 million households, providing protection to an estimated 4.7 million people.
Dr. Kamuliwo, Deputy Director of the National Malaria Control Centre
Mr. Sikaala said though the idea of IRS was catching on there were still some challenges to get people to have their houses sprayed. He said IRS had proved to be a highly effective malaria control measure. Mosquitoes were killed when they rested on the walls. Sprayed houses were protected for about four to 10 months, depending on the insecticide used and how the houses were constructed. The World Health Organization (WHO) has approved 12 insecticides it considers effective and safe for use in IRS including DDT which Zambia uses. Journalists asked about the use of DDT in IRS. DDT was banned by the World Health Organisation because it was found to accumulate in the fat deposits just below the skin. Mr. Sikaala explained that there had been a misunderstanding; DDT was only banned for agricultural use but could be used and was very effective in killing mosquitoes when sprayed on walls.
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Conference will be held at the Mulungushi International Conference Center, Lusaka. The theme: Cancer, a growing epidemic. Contact us with news of upcoming events!
When it is used for malaria prevention, it is applied indoors in very small amounts and it lasts for up to a year. For a country to use it for malaria prevention, it must be a signatory to the Stockholm Convention, which laid down stringent measures to ensure that DDT is only used indoors. In terms of treatment, Mr. Sikaala explained that success could be attributed in large part to the replacement of chloroquine as the primary drug for treating malaria, with Coartem, an artemisinin-based combination therapy. Before people were treated with three doses of Fansidar but, resistance set in. The regimen changed to one Coartem tablet.
The experts were asked if Zambia eradicated the anopheles mosquito, how it could stop mosquitoes and malaria coming in from border countries. Dr. Mulawka Kamuliwo said the MOH carries out cross border malaria control initiatives in conjunction with some of its neighbours. The countries share information and research results. They are also involved in exchange programmes. One such programme is the Trans-Zambezi Malaria Initiative. These programmes make it possible to eradicate malaria in the border countries. Be that as it may, there are challenges. Dr Kamuliwo, Director of the National Malaria Control Centre, said malaria has been placed with HIV and TB as they are closely linked. This has implications for funding. All three are heavily dependent on donor funding which is unpredictable. He also cautions about resistant to treatment strains. At the moment Fansidar no longer works, so people are on Coartem, but in time the mosquito will become resistant to this drug as well. “We need to keep tabs on how the medication is faring. That is why we have such a strong monitoring and research unit.” By Zarina Geloo, Knight Health Journalism Fellow, Zambia The Knight International Journalism Fellowships are a program of the International Center for Journalists in Washington, D.C.
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Malaria Resources
The National Malaria Control Centre (NMCC): www.nmcc.org.zm
The NMCC, a department under the directorate of Public Health and Research of the Ministry of Health, provides technical support and coordination for a wide range of partners including research and training institutes and Provincial and District Health Offices.
Ministry of Health in Zambia: www.moh.gov.zm
The Ministry aims to address and share ideas with the public on various topics in the health field and related services.
Malaria Journal: www.malariajournal.com
Malaria Journal is a Malaria Journal is an Open Access, peer-reviewed, online journal monitored by Thomson Reuters (ISI), MEDLINE and PubMed. It is aimed at the scientific community interested in malaria in its broadest sense. Visit their site to browse and submit articles.
Roll Back Malaria: www.rollbackmalaria.org
The RBM Partnership is the global framework to implement coordinated action against malaria. Its website contains useful facts, links, newsletters and tools on malaria.
Tropical Disease Research Centre: www.tdrc.org.zm
The TDRC is committed to significantly contribute to science and research aimed at improving the health status of the people of Zambia, the region and the international community. Users can read about their projects, upcoming events and publications.
U.S. Centers for Disease Control: www.cdc.gov/malaria
CDC.gov provides users with credible, reliable health information on: data and statistics, diseases and conditions, emergencies, disasters, environmental health, healthy living. You can also access their publications, podcasts and tools.
Next Briefing! The Forum for Health Writers will hold a March briefing on maternal health. We will send an e-mail alert with details about who, what, when and where.
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