Hoosen Ebrahim

This has happened at the backdrop of World Mosquito Day this week. The university's Dr Taneshka Kruger explained how the partnership will enhance efforts to eradicate malaria in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.

“So, if we look at SADC, this region consists of 60 member States and includes some of the countries that are most affected by Malaria globally. Now, while all SADC nations share the goal of eliminating malaria by 2030, only three SADC countries have achieved malaria eradication up to now so the whole idea behind this Memorandum of Understanding, is to strengthen cross border collaboration, joint projects and knowledge sharing,” Kruger said.

In SA, the Department of Health had said in April on World Malaria Day that the country was on track to achieve malaria elimination status by 2028, as outlined in the National Malaria Elimination Strategic Plan.

This, according to the department, is despite facing challenges such as heightened heatwaves exacerbated by climate change, with the potential to directly impact transmission and the burden of disease.

The World Health Organisation said in 2022 that Africa was home to 94% of malaria cases (233 million) and 95% (580 000) of malaria deaths.

--ChannelAfrica--