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Manicaland Bureau
THE Ministry of Health and Child Care intends to engage Mozambique on ways to collaborate in malaria control initiatives.
This follows a surge in malaria cases in Chimanimani and Chipinge. It is suspected that the disease could be emanating from Mozambique, which is generally prone to malaria.

The situation could have been worsened by the heavy rains that battered Mozambique and eastern parts of Zimbabwe due to Cyclone Idai a few months ago.

Manicaland provincial medical director Dr Patron Mafaune said a meeting between the two countries has since been set for early next month.

“We are planning a cross border meeting with Manica Province. Our colleagues from Mozambique will be coming to Zimbabwe,” she said.

“It is a planning meeting and an opportunity to see where we can collaborate in malaria control. We hope to be able to synchronise our response interventions for the populations along the border.”

Chimanimani district medical officer Dr Godwin Choga recently told a delegation of ambassadors and development partners that recently visited the province that the increase in cases of malaria along the border was a cause for concern.
Dr Choga said the ministry was conducting awareness campaigns in areas along the border, as well as distributing mosquito nets.