Zanzibar’s Malaria Control Efforts Have Been Successful, WHO Officials Say

The Tanzanian island of Zanzibar has had significant success in combating malaria, a World Health Organization assessment team visiting the country said recently, the Guardian/IPP Media reports. John Govere, one of the assessment team members, said the positive results were because of good planning, field work, team work and commitment, as well as collaboration between political and community leaders and religious groups. The distribution of thousands of insecticide-treated nets at no cost to pregnant women and children under age five, an environmental cleanliness campaign, the use of combination treatments and Zanzibar's indoor insecticide-spraying campaign have contributed to the island's success in fighting malaria, according to the Guardian/IPP Media. Mahdi Mohamed, team leader of the Zanzibar Malaria Control Program, said malaria prevalence on the island likely will decrease drastically after the indoor insecticide spraying program -- which began in July -- is completed. The WHO assessment team said Zanzibar still needs to improve its transportation and communication infrastructure to facilitate the indoor insecticide-spraying program. Sultani Mohamed Mugheiry, Zanzibar's health and social welfare minister, said the island's campaign to eradicate malaria could serve as a model for other regions (Yussuf, Guardian/IPP Media, 9/7).