Scientists, public brainstorm on malaria in Malawi
Scientists and researchers on Friday met with the public in Blantyre to brainstorm on the oldest disease malaria that claimed the life of a reverend and renowned missionary Dr David Livingstone 142 years ago and continues to kill millions of Malawians today.
Dr Thembi Mzilahowa conceded it will not be easy to win the battle against mosquito.
“Malawi is struggling to win this battle, it is not an easy battle,” said Dr Mzilahowa.
Malawi had 6:3 cases of malaria last year alone.
Dr Linda Mipanda noted there was need for Malawi to improve on its public health sector system, saying increased health workers would help fight the disease which mostly affect under five children.
Malawi public hospitals are facing huge budget cuts due to cashflow problems at Capital Hill following the freezing of donor aid forcing the government to suspend the hiring of health personnel and scale down some activities in both central hospitals and district hospitals as well as health centres.
Malawi depends on the US which provides for the 90 per cent of malaria drugs in public hospitals but the US ambassador to Malawi has warned the malaria drug donation may be withdrawn if the government does not contain the rampant malaria drug theft in hospitals.
Ministry of Health officials say the government has intensified the battle against malaria which killed a high profile person said to have discovered Malawi, Livingstone.
They say the government has distributed 10 million mosquito nets which means 70 per cent of Malawians now sleep under mosquito nets.
Malawi was not discovered by livingstone. He find people here. Livingstone discovered malawi first before his fellow europeans
Mr reporter tell us what scientist discussed at the meeting. thought they were sharing research work on Malaria be it on treatment, human behaviour, entomology etc.
Is this true that Malarial drugs are being stollen? Doubtiful lets just intensify on EIC and include the private hospitals in knowledge enrichment