Malaria leading cause of death in five regions

Malaria is the leading cause of death in five of Namibia's northern regions, claiming the lives of 467 people since January this year, a senior health official told IRIN on Wednesday. "Most of these deaths are malaria-related. The incidence of malaria peaked earlier this year because of the heavy rainfall in the north," said Dr Petrina Usiko, director of primary health care services in the ministry of health. Although malaria cases were on the increase, she said the country was not experiencing an epidemic. Dr Magda Robalo, head of the World Health Organisation's (WHO) malaria unit in Africa described the situation in Namibia as "under control and not unexpected". Last year 454 people died of malaria in the first four months; by the end of last year, 419,223 cases of malaria had been reported, of which 1,096 resulted in death. According to Usiko, the five most affected regions were the Kavango, Oshana, Caprivi, Ohangwena and Omusati regions. Other less affected regions, also in the north, were Kunene, Otjozondjupa, Oshikoto and Omaheke. About 140,411 malaria cases have been reported from across the country since the beginning of the year, less than last year's figure for the same period. Heavy rainfall in northern Namibia has created pools of stagnant water, where malaria-carrying mosquitoes breed. "But as the temperatures fall, the number of malaria cases are likely to drop," Usiko said. The high average temperatures, rainfall and humidity persisting in the Kavango and Caprivi regions throughout the year create conditions for a higher rate of transmission of malaria, making it perennial in these areas. "However, temperatures in the Caprivi have begun to fall - if the maximum drops to below 34 degrees celsius and the minimum to less than 16 degrees, the mosquito larvae will not be able to survive, and that will reduce the rate of transmission of malaria," added Usiko. Usiko pointed out that the authorities had taken preventive measures by spraying the malaria-prone regions before the onset of the rainy season, and periodically ran malaria awareness campaigns. "Unfortunately, people do not pay attention to the symptoms of malaria and many patients are arriving in the hospitals in a state of coma." Dr Desta Tiruneh, a WHO representative in Namibia, explained that the country was sparsely populated and "many homesteads are located in areas which do not have access to primary clinics, but the authorities are making an effort to go out to these families to monitor the situation." Compared to other countries in Southern Africa, Namibia is considered to be moderately affected by malaria.