GABORONE, Jan. 26 — Botswana is currently leading efforts to eliminate malaria in southern Africa, but uncertainties presented by climate change may threaten achievements realized so far.
In 2009, a coalition of eight ministers of health representing Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe founded the Elimination 8 (E8). The aim of this union was to help countries in southern Africa work across national borders to eliminate malaria by 2030.
“Botswana is actually the closest to eliminating the disease, looking at our population, number of cases and deaths,” Botswana’s Assistant Minister of Health Sethomo Lelatisitswe said recently.
As in other parts of the world, the African continent is also fighting to maintain momentum in its battle with malaria in the face of climate change effects such as floods and cyclones, as experienced in South Africa, Botswana, Mozambique and Zimbabwe in the past few years.
Without a solid strategy to minimize parasite flow across the borders that could fuel local transmission and reverse the gains made toward reducing the malaria burden, Botswana is witnessing malaria cases in areas of the country that were never synonymous with the disease.
Chebukani Nkobodo of Botswana’s National Malaria Programme said there are many reasons why this has become the case other than just the possibility of new breeding grounds due to flooding.
Though 1,900 people were hospitalized with severe malaria in 2021, the assistant minister of health said Botswana recorded less than 400 cases and nine deaths in 2022.
“These deaths could have been avoided and we can still prevent further deaths. Timely diagnosis leads to prompt and effective treatment which will ultimately result in reduced malaria mortality and morbidity,” he said.
Botswana’s timely diagnosis efforts and its being on track in achieving the goals of the Malaria elimination strategy have been made possible by organizations like the Pan African Vivax and Ovale Network which conducted malaria microscopy training in Gaborone, and the Rotary Club of Gaborone which recently availed malaria microscopes.
“Over the past 40 years, we have also deployed Long life Insecticide Treated Mosquito Nets in endemic areas of Botswana, such as Gweta, Shorobe, Mababe, Khwai and Sankoyo villages. We will continue supporting Botswana’s efforts to end malaria,” William McLellan, past president of the Rotary Club of Gaborone, told Xinhua recently.
Climate change and the transboundary nature of malaria, being possible factors to increasing cases in Botswana, can only worsen the situation at a time when resources are limited following attempts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the World Health Organization’s World Malaria Report 2022, there were an estimated 247 million malaria cases globally in 2021. Four countries accounted for just over half of all malaria deaths: Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Niger and Tanzania.
The report emphasizes the need for global political will to address the threats posed by climate change, despite uncertainties about exactly how climate change will affect malaria. (Xinhua)
Climate change may threaten Botswana’s efforts to end malaria
