Mpumalanga MEC for health declares war on malaria
Some 400 spray operators will be working in various communities until March 2027.
As part of the government’s efforts to combat malaria, 79 000 structures in the City of Mbombela, 377 960 in Bushbuckridge and 300 000 in Nkomazi will be sprayed with dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane.
These areas are part of the indoor residual spraying (IRS) programme.
The Mpumalanga Department of Health (DoH) conducts a seasonal indoor residual spraying in malaria-endemic areas to reduce this scourge. The campaign aims to ensure acceptance and adequate population coverage to prevent malaria outbreaks. The MEC for health, Sasekani Manzini, welcomed 400 new malaria spray operators at the launch of the campaign.
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“In our continued commitment to eliminate malaria, we have employed 400 spray operators who will be working until March 2027. They are distributed as follows: in the Bushbuckridge subdistrict there will be 165, in Mbombela 60 and in Nkomazi 175.”
Manzini said the people of Mpumalanga must be actively involved in this fight, as they are both the beneficiaries and the critical partners in achieving their goals. She urged the community members to allow spray operators access to their homes, emphasising the importance of joint efforts in combating malaria.
The indoor residual spraying programme commences in September 2024, with the newly appointed operators conducting integrated malaria interventions to prevent outbreaks and mortalities. “Mpumalanga is one of the provinces swimming in the ocean of endemic malaria, with cases concentrated in the Ehlanzeni District, City of Mbombela and Bushbuckridge.
“As the DoH we have observed and noted that the malaria season transmission in the province starts from August every year and continues to May the following year,” she explained.
“In our quest to confront this societal health scourge, the Mpumalanga DoH has employed malaria spray operators who will be conducting free and effective IRS in various communities across the province during this 2024/25 financial year. This programme is at the heart of our efforts to safeguard our communities and protect them from the devastating impact of malaria. IRS is one of the most effective tools in our arsenal against malaria. By coating the walls and surfaces inside homes with insecticides, we disrupt the lifecycle of malaria-carrying mosquitoes, thereby significantly reducing the transmission of the disease. This strategy has proven to be a game changer in malaria prevention globally and even here in Mpumalanga.”
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As part of South Africa’s national strategy, the aim is to eliminate local malaria transmission by 2028.
“Mpumalanga is one of the provinces mostly affected by malaria, and we are at the forefront of this fight against malaria. Our efforts here will not only contribute to the province’s well-being, but will also serve as a model for other regions. Over the years, Mpumalanga has made remarkable strides in reducing the burden of malaria. From 2017 to 2023, we witnessed a 78% reduction in local malaria cases.”
Manzini said they urge the community members, especially those who are residing in these malaria-prone areas, to always seek medical care should they have signs and symptoms, and they should not try to treat themselves at home.
The symptoms of malaria:
• Flu-like symptoms, which include fever and chills that shake your whole body
• Headache, muscle and joint pains
• Chest pains, breathing problems and coughs
• Fatigue
• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhoea and abdominal pains.
