Malaria death toll still high

The death toll from malaria remains high in Zimbabwe, with 393 deaths recorded this year. In its latest situation report, the UN Relief and Recovery Unit (RRU) noted that "the problem of clinical malaria is still ongoing, particularly in Matebeleland North and Mashonaland Central", but "cumulative figures now stand at 25,511 reported cases and 393 deaths" for the country. The Ministry of Health and Child Welfare and a number of partners, including the World Health Organisation and the UN Children's Fund, had developed a malaria preparedness plan, which, when implemented "should see a significant reduction in the clinical malaria cases". "The plan is already providing leads on how best to build capacity at service delivery points at the community level, in terms of staffing and provision of essential consumables through the existing structures," the RRU reported. Health experts have pointed out that malaria, HIV/AIDS and food shortages may be having a combined impact in Zimbabwe.