By XAVIER MANCHISHI

Zambia together with Rwanda and Zanzibar are said to be countries sustaining malaria control with the hope of moving towards the elimination of the disease that is said to kill one child in Africa every 60 seconds. 

UAM programme manager for South Africa Ann McCartney-Melstad, however, said there was need for more political will among all African countries if the continent was to achieve total elimination. “We need political leaders across Africa to unite against malaria so that all African countries can eventually achieve elimination. Malaria is a preventable and treatable disease,” she said. She observed that Zambia had made several interventions which had drastically reduced the prevalence rate, especially along the line of rail, with Lusaka and Copperbelt provinces leading in the number of households using insecticide treated mosquito nets. Ms McCartney-Melstad was speaking during the fight against malaria UAM/Council for Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA)/Stanbic media workshop held at Moba Hotel in Kitwe on the sidelines of the regional soccer championship. 

United Against Malaria corporate partners met in Tanzania last week to advance the role of the private sector in malaria control, building on top-level support from the Prime Minister, who recently invited 32 new companies to become Malaria Safe.