The Ministry of Health has disclosed that malaria cases have dropped from seven million in 2016 to 4.2 million in 2022.
Programme Manager for National Malaria Control Programme in the Ministry of Health, Lumbani Munthali, told The Daily Times that cases of malaria deaths have decreased from 4,000 to 1,800 annually.
“This can be attributed to the launch of malaria vaccination and net distribution interventions. In 2016, at least 407 people used to suffer from malaria out of a population of 1,000. Now, the number has reduced to 220 per 1,000 people.
“We have reduced malaria cases and mortality rate due to mass and routine distribution of nets [and] indoor residential spraying, which is happening in Balaka, Mangochi, Nkhata Bay and Nkhotakota.
“Among others, we have another intervention whereby we are distributing malaria vaccines to under-five children in 11 districts. This has helped us, as a ministry, a lot to combat cases of the disease,” Munthali said.
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Meanwhile, health rights activist Maziko Matemba has commended the government for intensifying the fight against malaria.
