Can Zanzibar Eliminate Malaria By Year 2017?

BY ISSA YUSSUF, 1 JANUARY 2014

Zanzibar — ZANZIBAR through its Malaria Elimination Programme (ZAMEP) is struggling to meet its goal of "Zero locally acquired malaria cases by 2017." Health officers working on the ground are asking whether the goal can be met.

Zanzibar has managed to reduce malaria prevalence from 40 per cent in 2005 down to below one per cent in 2013, following multiple successful interventions which include raising awareness, use of treated mosquito nets, proper diagnosis and residual spray.

Although the islands celebrate the success, the biggest worry is whether the achievement can be maintained and ultimately eliminate malaria from Zanzibar!

The fret is linked to Zanzibaris unwillingness to behaviour change to keep their surroundings clean and uncertainty in funding.

The mission of ZAMEP in eliminating malaria, according to the health officers, is provision of quality, affordable and cost effective malarial interventions to all people in the islands.

In accomplishing the task, ZAMEP has set-up its objectives as testing 100 per cent of suspected malaria cases with a parasitological test and providing radical treatment to 100 per cent by free Artemisinin based Combination Therapy (ACTs) and strengthening malaria diagnosis by microscopy and Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDTs).

To achieve 100 per cent coverage with Indoor Residual Spray (IRS) in targeted areas and 100 per cent coverage with Insecticide Treated Nets/ Long Lasting Insecticide Nests (ITNs/LLINs) and use Carbamates instead of Pyrethroids which mosquitoes have developed resistance.

Other objectives are control larva-ciding, conduct active case detection in all Shehias (wards) every two weeks, investigate 100 per cent of confirmed malaria cases, increase the percentage of febrile cases reporting to health facility within 24 hours of onset of illness to 80 per cent and to establish functional coordination structures for malaria elimination at national, district and Shehia levels.

It also needs parasite Control through Active Case Detection (ACD) - on going in hot spot areas, Passive Case Detection (PCD) and see that all people are free of malaria parasites and infection.

Mr Mwinyi Issa Msellem, Deputy Programme Manager of ZAMEP (formerly ZMCP), said at the meeting with editors in Zanzibar that the main focus of the programme is to make sure that Zanzibar has a strong routine malaria surveillance and information systems supported by periodic malaria surveys.

Source: allAfrica