Copperbelt’s Lufwanyama District Health Director Joel Muntanga has noted the need for all concerned stakeholders to strive to turn words into action and action into impact for malaria to be eliminated in the area.
Lufwanyama tops the list in terms of malaria cases in districts on the Copperbelt, and is among the top five with the worst burden out the 116 at national level.
Recently, Chief Lumpuma of the Lamba people in Lufwanyama District expressed concern over the huge malaria burden in his community, requesting more support from the government and other organizations to combat the disease.
This lead to the End Malaria Council EMC organising an event at the Chief’s palace to discuss strategies and commitment to ending malaria in the area, including the handover of bicycles to community health workers.
And Dr Muntanga said with malaria continuing to cast a dark shadow over the district subjecting it to being ranked highest on the Copperbelt, concerted effort from all stakeholders should confront the challenge head-on.
In 2024 alone, the district recorded 132, 210 malaria cases with an incidence rate of 926.74 per 1000 of the population
Dr Muntanga said this during an event to commemorate World Malaria Day held at Kamakanga Health Centre in Lufwanyama District.
The commemoration was held under the theme, “Malaria Ends With Us: Reinvest, Reimagine, Reignite”
“The impact of malaria is felt mostly by our children under five, pregnant women and the immune compromised. All these are less equipped to fight back. But there is hope because malaria is both preventable and treatable with a lot more needing to be done,” Dr Muntanga said.
Dr Muntanga said encouraging strides towards increasing distribution of insecticide treated mosquito nets, indoor residual spraying as well as tireless efforts by health workers and community volunteers have been made in past years, but that a lot more needs to be done as the disease reduces productivity and stretches health systems to the limit.
Dr Muntanga however expressed gratitude to the End Malaria Council EMC and other partners such as Grizzly Mining which have been supporting Lufwanyama District in the fight against malaria adding that this gives the district an added advantage which needs to be leveraged on.
“Despite these gains, much remains to be done. We must intensify collective action to tackle poor drainage systems resulting in stagnant water which encourages mosquito breeding thereby potentially increasing cases,” he said.
He urged people to contribute to fighting malaria by seeking medical care promptly among other measures, to eliminate the disease.
And speaking at the same event, Lufwanyama District Commissioner Justin Mwalikwa urged the public to rise with determination and act with urgency to eliminate malaria.
Mr Mwalikwa said shared responsibility and a collective resolve is needed to eliminate malaria.
He said a lot of money can be saved through the health budget if collective action to eliminate malaria is achieved.
Mr Mwalikwa advised people in the area not to use mosquito nets for fishing as that is counterproductive in the fight against malaria.
Meanwhile, End Malaria Council EMC Representative Justine Mumba called on organizations and individuals to join the donate a bicycle campaign to ease the movements of community health workers in fighting the disease.
Mr Mumba noted that resources continue to play a key role in the malaria fight, and stakeholders’ contributions remain vital in fighting malaria.
