Health ministry urges early treatment as malaria cases continue to rise

The Ministry of Health and Social Services has reported 15 496 malaria cases among minors, including three malaria-related deaths, nationwide since December 2024.

The ministry’s spokesperson, Walters Kamaya, in an interview said all three deaths – two girls and one boy – were minors under the age of five.

Kamaya said Namibia continues to face a significant challenge with rising malaria cases. Since the start of the outbreak in December last year, the ministry has recorded 76 195 cases with 132 deaths.

“Measures to combat malaria have been in place since the beginning of the outbreak. Field teams have been actively deployed to hotspot communities in response to the outbreak. Their presence has enabled early detection and prompt treatment of malaria cases, which helps prevent delays in health-seeking behavior among community members,” Kamaya said.

Other key interventions highlighted by Kamaya include spraying households that were missed during previous indoor residual spraying campaigns, treating mosquito breeding sites with larvicides to eliminate larvae, and investigating and responding to areas where malaria cases are detected.

The ministry, however, continues to face challenges, such as inadequate vehicles for response activities, insufficient IT equipment and gadgets for data capturing and reporting, continued late health-seeking behaviour from patients, periodic stock-outs of pharmaceutical commodities in some health facilities, and inadequate numbers of pharmacists in some affected regions.

Kamaya urged people to seek immediate medical attention if they experience symptoms such as fever, chills, headache, or body aches, emphasising that malaria can be treated effectively if caught early. He also advised sleeping under a mosquito net every night, especially long-lasting insecticidal nets, as the safest way to prevent mosquito bites.

“Malaria is a dangerous disease, especially during pregnancy and for young children. It can cause serious complications such as miscarriage, stillbirth, low birth weight, and even death. But the good news is that is malaria is preventable and treatable,” said Kamaya.

In an age of information overload, Sunrise is The Namibian’s morning briefing, delivered at 6h00 from Monday to Friday. It offers a curated rundown of the most important stories from the past 24 hours – occasionally with a light, witty touch. It’s an essential way to stay informed. Subscribe and join our newsletter community.