-Kaputa district in the Northern Province has been hit with a serious malaria epidemic, raising concern among medical staff in the district.
The district has so far recorded 1, 927 cases of malaria with 62 deaths recorded between October 2010 and December the same year.
This is according to statistics submitted to the District Health Office by four of the 12 health centers in the district.
Kaputa District Director of Health Michael Musonda described the situation as serious saying urgent action needs to be taken to ensure that the situation is put under control.
Dr. Musonda disclosed that the Malaria Control Centre in Lusaka has since donated over 66, 000 mosquito nets to be distributed to members of the community in Kaputa district in an effort to curb the situation.
He told ZANIS in Kaputa district that the District Health Management Team has since embarked on a sensitisation campaign to educate members of the community on how they can protect themselves from getting malaria.
Dr. Musonda also appealed to Government to ensure efficient delivery of drugs to Kaputa district, saying the supply by Medical Stores has over the past few months been inconsistent.
He said this situation has prompted the district health office to procure drugs such as quinine and other malaria drugs from other districts to treat malaria patients.
And the District Director of Health has prodded Government to ensure it retains health personnel that are leaving Kaputa district owing to lack of proper incentives.
He said the district is currently facing a human resource crisis and therefore needed adequate health staff to be posted and retained in the district for quality health service delivery.
Dr. Musonda further urged Government to deploy more midwives to Kaputa district to help reduce the high maternal mortality which currently stands at 500 per 1000 live births.
He further implored Government to procure enough equipment for Kaputa district hospitalto carry out operations, saying at the moment the medical team at the hospital has to improvise to carryout out surgical operations.
But Ministry of Health Spokesperson Kamoto Mbewe disclosed that Government was in the process of procuring more clinical equipment for all hospitals and health posts in the country to enable health facilities to operate smoothly.
Dr Mbewe assured Kaputa District Health Team that their concerns are being looked into and will be addressed in no time.
[ ZANIS ]
there is need for massive spraying. lets kill the mosquito
the high maternal mortality which currently stands at 500 per 1000 live births. eish..is these figures are real..then why claim GRZ under MMD is making progress?in the medical world such figures equals genocide..fellow citizens..we can change the situation by voting right people into office..lets meet this year and make chanxge…Shame to our Republican President,health minister and all those involved!!!!!!!!!
MUTALE NALUMANGO thats your area what are you going to do. PACT thats our area now for 2011
“But Ministry of Health Spokesperson Kamoto Mbewe disclosed that Government was in the process of procuring more clinical equipment for all hospitals and health posts in the country to enable health facilities to operate smoothly”…. It is always in the process, why wait until disaster has struck before sending mosquito nets…always reactive!