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Rwanda renews efforts to end malaria infections

Xinhua, April 25, 2017 Adjust font size:

Rwanda has embarked on a campaign to reduce cases of malaria infections and kicking it out of the country for good, according to the ministry of health.

The national malaria drive seeks to increase access to adequate early diagnosis and treatment services in border locations of the country, donate treated mosquito nets, extend indoor residual spraying practice to selected malaria prone districts and educate the population about best practices to prevent malaria.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Aimable Mbituyumuremyi, division manager of Malaria and Other Parasitic Diseases at the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC), ministry of health said that the country was strengthening its efforts to end malaria infections.

"Significant progress is being made in Rwanda, and we are looking forward to achieve full elimination of malaria. We are putting much emphasis on early diagnosis because it's one of the most effective ways of treating and controlling malaria," he added.

Rwanda on Tuesday joined the rest of the World to mark World Malaria Day which falls on 25th April, every year.

Mbituyumuremyi said that the small central African country has achieved significant steps towards combating malaria where the disease has moved from being the first killer of children under five in 2005 to eleventh in 2011.

Latest figures from the ministry of health show malaria cases in Rwanda increased from 514,173 in 2014 to 1,957,000 in 2015. However malaria death decreased from 499 in 2014 to 424 in 2015.

According to the ministry, about 83 percent of Rwandan households have treated mosquito nets. The government targets at least one mosquito net per two people.

Mbituyumuremyi stated that about 5,000 people will be tested and treated during April 25-29, as part of the efforts to combat malaria infections.

In 2015, Rwanda was recognized for its battle against malaria, by the African Leaders Malaria Alliance Awards for Excellence in Vector Control.

According to the World Malaria Report 2016, the rate of new malaria cases fell by 21 percent globally between 2010 and 2015. Malaria death rates decreased by 29 percent in the same 5-year period. In sub-Saharan Africa, case incidence and death rates fell by 21 percent and 31 percent, respectively.

World Health Organization says that insecticide-treated nets have had the greatest impact, accounting for an estimated 69 percent of cases prevented through control tools.

It recommends sleeping in insecticide treated mosquito nets, spraying indoor walls with insecticides, and preventive medicines for the most vulnerable groups: pregnant women, under-fives and infants. Endit