The two year project is intended to reduce the incidence of malaria in Chibuto by 20 per cent. In 2005, there were 95,000 notified cases of malaria in the district, rising to 97,000 cases in 2006. Taking Gaza province as a whole, there were over 920,000 registered cases of malaria in 2006, resulting in the known deaths of 477 people.
Speaking at the Wednesday launch of the programme, the director of the Corridor Sands project, Alan Cuddon, noted that in Beluluane, on the outskirts of Maputo, a similar project, largely funded by the MOZAL aluminium smelter, had, over an eight year period, led to an 80 per cent reduction in malaria cases.
For his part, the National Director of Health. Mouzinho Saide, called for the involvement of all Chibuto health workers, and the local population, in the anti-malaria campaign. In particular, he wanted the people of Chibuto to collaborate in the spraying of their homes wuth insecticide to kill the anopheles mosquitos that carry the malaria parasite.
"In fighting this disease, our intervention must be strong", declared Saide. "Nothing prevents us from ensuring good performance in implementing this programme. What is needed is that we all take responsibility for this fight".
Under the project, house to house spraying will be carried out, and materials provided for rapid diagnosis of the disease.
Health staff will be trained in how to manage malaria cases.
SOURCE: AIM
