Malaria is a real problem in Africa as many of us know. Personally, since I actually got sick twice because of this frustrating mosquito-spread disease, I have been paying close attention to the policy developments on malaria prevention and treatment, at least in East Africa where I normally spend at three month every year. In 2010, according to the Humanitarian News and Analysis (IRIN), malaria prevalence in Zanzibar heads towards zero. It has, in fact, registered a decrease from a 38 percent prevalence rate in 2008, to less than 1 percent in 2010. THIS IS WONDERFUL NEWS. Zanzibar is thus joining the list of other African island states that have been able to successfully eradicate malaria through intensive prevention campaigns that include the use of two major tools: DDT spraying and the use of mosquito nets. That being said, according to the local authorities, there have also been some notable setbacks. Among the common challenges registered, there is the refusal of some patients to get tested and treated which increases the risk of transmission and death. Juma Muchi, a Zanzibar based doctor also declared for IRIN that:

Although malaria is down, the situation remains fragile. Sustainable commitment by the government, including having its own funds for the anti-malaria program and awareness of the need to keep the environment clean, is important to control mosquitoes.

Another concern is that the success story of Zanzibar might determine some of the donors to withdraw funding for the project.

I hope that one day, at least in Zanzibar, people could finally talk of malaria in the past tense. In addition, based on my discussions with various Tanzanian doctors and government representatives, there is a ongoing debate on whether the government should finance the use of DDT as a weapon to fight malaria. But this is not without complications as DDT can have detrimental effects on the environment and the human subjects.

Photo Credit: ABC NEWS