Abstract
This review outlines and discusses the new challenges in malaria control and prospects for its elimination in Mutare and Mutasa Districts, Zimbabwe. The burden of malaria has declined significantly over the past 5 years in most regions in Zimbabwe, including Mutare and Mutasa Districts. The nationwide malaria reduction has been primarily linked to scaled-up vector control interventions and early diagnosis and treatment with effective anti-malarial medicines. The successes recorded have prompted Zimbabwe’s National Malaria Control Programme to commit to a global health agenda of eliminating malaria in all districts in the country. However, despite the decline in malaria burden in Mutare and Mutasa Districts, there is clear evidence of new challenges, including changes in vector behaviour, resistance to insecticides and anti-malarial medicines, invasion of new areas by vectors, vectors in various combination of sympatry, changes in vector proportions, outdoor malaria transmission, climate change and lack of meticulousness of spray operators. These new challenges are likely to retard the shift from malaria control to elimination in Mutare and Mutasa Districts.
Highlights
Following the aborted Global Malaria Eradication campaign in the 1960–1970s, malaria received little international attention over the subsequent years until recently [1]
The predominantly indoor resting and host-seeking traits of An. funestus reported by Pates and Curtis [18] in various parts of Africa and Sande et al [16, 17] in Mutare and Mutasa set opportunities for its control using indoor residual spraying (IRS) or long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs), with prospects of achieving the malaria elimination goal when combined with other effective malaria interventions
Opportunities and critical new challenges to the ambitious goal of malaria elimination exist in Mutare and Mutasa Districts of Manicaland Province in Zimbabwe
Summary
Following the aborted Global Malaria Eradication campaign in the 1960–1970s, malaria received little international attention over the subsequent years until recently [1]. The predominantly indoor resting and host-seeking traits of An. funestus reported by Pates and Curtis [18] in various parts of Africa and Sande et al [16, 17] in Mutare and Mutasa set opportunities for its control using IRS or LLINs, with prospects of achieving the malaria elimination goal when combined with other effective malaria interventions.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
