Health authorities in Zimbabwe have confirmed in a statement that 786 people have died of malaria in that country in the nine months to the end of September this year. Dr Andrew Jamieson, medical director: SAA-Netcare Travel Clinics said in a statement on Sunday: ”The malaria situation in Zimbabwe poses a direct threat to South Africa.”
SAA-Netcare Travel Clinics is a joint venture between South African Airways and JSE-listed Netcare and delivers a consulting and treatment service to the travel and tourist industry.
Jamieson said: ”Many of the major malaria areas in Zimbabwe are very close to our northern borders, which could result in increased incidence of malaria in South Africa.”
”Without adequate and timeous treatment, more and more Zimbabweans will become infected with the malaria parasite and the resulting spread of the disease poses a mammoth challenge and may prove impossible to curtail either demographically or geographically,” he said.
The Zimbabwe government has pledged Zim $4-billion (US$4,9-million) of the Zimbabwean $10-billion (US$12-million) required for a comprehensive anti-malaria programme.
The Global Health Fund (GHF) has donated US$4,7-million and a consignment of trucks, motorcycles and spray pumps for use in the programme was scheduled to arrive in the country soon.
The malaria season in Zimbabwe starts with the arrival of the October rains each year, and goes through to May the following year. – Sapa