Malaria infections are down this year based on surveillance records for the last two months, but challenges persist in interior locations.
Health Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy said a 20 per cent reduction in the number of cases has been recorded after eight weeks of surveillance. Just over 2,000 cases have been recorded and some 3300 cases were on file for thecorresponding period in 2010.
Ramsammy told reporters last week that the ministry is looking to get back “on the trajectory of decline”, but observed that it will be a major challenge given the increase of economic activities that are occurring in Regions 1, 7, 8, 9 and 10.
The increase in mining in interior locations, in addition to the work being done at Amaila Falls, Ramsammy said, leaves more people exposed. But he stressed that the ministry is working with various entrepreneurs and private investors to ensure early diagnosis and the availability of treatment.
Malaria cases had been on the decline for a number of years, but last year the reduction was interrupted when the number went up. Ramsammy said the target remains under 8,000 cases by next year.
He said too that rapid response teams are providing critical assistance to the affected regions in their struggle to control malaria. Ramsammy recently met with regional health officers in Regions 1, 2, 7, 8, 9 and 10.
