Zambia and Zimbabwe yesterday launched a cross border malaria initiative aimed at improving coordination of malaria control activities in the two countries’ border districts.
Zambia’s Minister of Health Joseph Kasonde and Zimbabwe’s Deputy Minister of Health and Child Welfare Douglas Mombeshora launched the initiative in Nsongwe Village.
The malaria initiative, whose aim is to harmonise the implementation of malaria prevention policies between the two countries, coincided with the commemoration of the World Malaria Day under the theme “Invest in the future: Defeat malaria.”
Dr Kasonde said Government will remain resolute in its quest to eliminate the disease by 2015.
He said Government will continue to put in place malaria prevention measures, consolidate and collaborate with stakeholders in the fight against the disease.
Dr Kasonde said although Zambia has recorded a decrease in malaria prevalence in most provinces, Government will continue scaling up strategies aimed at further reducing the rate of malaria through distribution of insecticide-treated mosquito nets and indoor residue spray.
“We will not rest until we eliminate malaria by 2015 and we have provided KR120 million in this year’s budget because the battle against malaria can only be won with adequate financial and human resources,” Dr Kasonde said.
And Dr Mombeshora said his Government is happy to partner with Zambia in the fight against “cross border malaria.”
He said the launch of the Zambia-Zimbabwe cross border malaria initiative requires the two countries to mobilise resources and harmonise the fight against the disease in communities where it can easily spread.
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