Official Urges Residents of Namibia’s Oshana Region To Prevent Malaria, Protect Against Mosquitoes

Naphtali Hamata, health director of Namibia's Oshana region, recently called on residents to protect themselves against mosquitoes to prevent malaria, New Era reports. According to Hamata, rainfall during December 2008 led to an increase in the number of suspected malaria cases. Hamata urged residents to take precautions against mosquitoes, such as sleeping under insecticide-treated nets, wearing long-sleeved clothes and applying mosquito repellants. Residents who suspect they have malaria should report to the nearest health care facility, he said.

He added that of the 1,482 suspected malaria cases tested from Nov. 1, 2008, to Jan. 1, 36 were positive and one death has occurred. The Ministry of Health and Social Services estimates that an average of 400,000 outpatient malaria cases, 30,000 inpatient cases and 877 malaria-related deaths are registered annually in the country. According to Hamata, the region's health ministry began a weekly malaria awareness campaign at the beginning of the rainy season (Sibeene, New Era, 1/12).