Malaria down by 44 per cent among under-fives

Malaria prevalence in children in Tanzania aged below five years has fallen by 44 percent since 2007, the preliminary results of the 2011-2012 Tanzania HIV/AIDS and Malaria Indicator Survey released yesterday show.

Health and Social Welfare Minister Dr Hussein Mwinyi said in Dar es Salaam yesterday during the launch of the results that the drop was a big milestone in the country’s efforts to combat malaria.

He said in 2007 the percentage of children under the age of five with malaria was 18 percent, but in the 2011-12 THMIS as measured by rapid Diagnostic Test the prevalence has declined to 10 percent.

“This means that we have managed to reduce malaria prevalence in children under five by 44 percent …this is a big step and we should feel proud… we expect the rate to decline further as efforts continue to combat the disease,” Dr Mwinyi said.

He said the report also indicated that 10 percent of children aged 6-59 months in the Mainland tested positive for malaria compared to less than one percent of children in Zanzibar.

Dr Mwinyi said malaria was prevalent among children across regions in the country, the highest being in Geita Region (33) followed by Lindi, Kigoma and Mara with 26 percent each.

He said the region with lowest prevalence were Arusha, Kilimanjaro, Singida and Iringa which had less than one percent each.

The results however suggested that rural children were more likely to test positive for malaria than urban ones.

He said that the National Bureau of Statistics and the Office of Chief Government Statistician in Zanzibar decided to issue the preliminary results following the high demand for the data from heath stakeholders and government in general.

He said the preliminary results were part of the many reports which were collected in 2011-2012 on THMIS and that more information will be released in the final report.

Tanzania Commission for Aids Director of Policy, Planning and Research Dr Raphael Kalinga said the research was being conducted for the third time in the country.

“All these researches are important in planning strategies to control HIV/AIDS in the country because they show which areas should be given more resources to combat the disease in the country,” he said.

He said the main challenge of the findings was lack of capacity among stakeholders on use of the statistics.

Acting Chief Statistician from Zanzibar Mayasa Mwinyi said that malaria prevalence in Zanzibar was less than one percent.

She said the strategy to combat malaria in the Isles started long time and it has been successful.

She said the efforts included distribution of treated mosquito nets and indoor residual spraying.

Mwinyi called on the mainland to learn from Isles to combat the disease.

The survey was jointly conducted by NBS and the office of the Chief Government Statistician in collaboration with the ministry of health and Social Welfare, TACAIDS and Zanzibar Aids Commission.