Govt calls for massive investment in malaria control programs

—-A senior government official in Mbala district in Northern Province has called for scaled up massive financial investment from all stakeholders towards malaria control programmes.

Mbala District Commissioner, Best Kabulembe, says the critical funding gaps for malaria control interventions in the district are threatening to halt and reverse the remarkable progress made so far towards malaria control.

Mr Kabulembe said this in a speech read for him by Mbala Mayor, Evaristo Bowa, during the commemoration of world malaria day at Masamba Primary school under the theme, “Investing in the future: Defeat Malaria,” over the weekend.

He said Mbala has been rated among other districts with high incidences of malaria in the province and this scenario needs to be addressed by scaling up financial support from all cooperating partners.

The District Commissioner noted that government, through the Ministry of Community Development, Mother and Child Health was making strides towards the fight against malaria but the resources were limited to implement all the interventions.

Mr Kabulembe said with enough financial support there is no doubt the district will attain unprecedented momentum and yield remarkable returns on malaria control.

He disclosed that indoor residual spraying, use of long lasting insecticide treated nets, malaria case management, health education and intermittent presumptive treatment for pregnant mothers were some of the interventions put in place to control malaria in the district.