Zanzibar government has called upon relevant authorities to take appropriate measures so as to end malaria by 2029. Zanzibar Minister for Health Nassor Ahmed Mazrui made the call on Thursday during commemoration of the World Malaria Day in the isles. According to the 2022 Tanzania Malaria Indicator Survey, Zanzibar maintained a malaria rate of less than 1% for more than a decade. This is due to substantial contributions from the U.S. government through the President’s Malaria Initiative. Mazrui, who represented Zanzibar President Dr Hussein Ali Mwinyi, said despite the fact that malaria is currently decreasing; there are still some areas, especially in Unguja’s Urban, West A and West B districts where the disease continues to persist. The target is stipulated in the six-year Strategic Plan to End Malaria (2024-2029). He called on all regions that still have malaria infection to ensure that they properly manage implementation of the correct strategies to end the disease in their areas so that eventually Zanzibar is malaria-free. A total of 782,000 nets were purchased through the U.S President’s Anti-Malaria Fund (PMI) and were distributed to communities. Craig Hart, USAID mission director for Tanzania, said the U.S President’s Fund to Fight Malaria (PMI), will continue to cooperate with Tanzania to fight and end malaria. Through close cooperation with people, institutions and the government of Tanzania, the U.S government has also strengthened health systems to increase efforts to end malaria.
Source: IPP Media
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