Zimbabwe sees huge jump in malaria cases as US withdraws funding
Zimbabwe is recording a huge jump in malaria deaths at a time the United States, the biggest funder of the country's health delivery system, is scaling back its support due to President Donald Trump's policies on foreign aid.
The southern African country's Health ministry on Friday said malaria cases had increased by 180 percent since the beginning of the year from 21,309 in 2024 to 59,647 this year while bemoaning the withdrawal of US funding for prevention programmes.
Malaria deaths have increased by 218 percent from 45 in 2024 to 143 in 2025, the ministry said.
Zimbabwe's health delivery system is heavily reliant on donor funding and the US government was the largest contributor through USAID whose operations have been heavily curtailed by President Trump's new administration.
Read: Dead aid? African leaders forced to move on fast in Trump eraThe US early this year said its initiatives through USAID and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had helped reduce the incidence of malaria in Zimbabwe by 40 percent in the last 15 years.
American funding helped procure 800,000 mosquito nets, 1.2 million malaria test kits and 100,000 'life-saving anti-malaria medications as our teams on the ground train health care workers and educate communities about malaria prevention and early treatment,' the US embassy in Harare said then.
Those gains are in danger of being reversed with the Zimbabwe government now raising the alarm following the sharp increase in new cases and deaths.'This increase is being driven by a combination of environmental and behavioural factors,' the Health Ministry said.'Increased rainfall, humility, and temperatures have created favourable conditions for mosquito breeding.'At the same time, more people are engaging in outdoor activities such as artisanal mining, farming, tobacco curing, and cross border trading, particularly during dusk to dawn when mosquitoes are most active.'Many of these activities take place in remote areas where access to health services is limited, leading to delays in treatment and an increase in fatalities.'The government said the number of reported malaria outbreaks had jumped from just one in 2024 to 115 in 2025.'Out of these, only 23 have been brought under control. The majority of outbreaks have been reported in provinces with high levels of artisanal mining and agricultural activities,' the ministry added.'Mashonaland Central, Manicaland, and Mashonaland West are the most affected provinces, contributing a combined 82.8 percent of all cases and 72.9 percent of all deaths.'Children under the age of five account for 14 percent of the total malaria cases.'The government said the distribution of malaria prevention kits such as insecticide treated nets (ITNs) had been affected by the withdrawal of funding from the US.'A total of 1,615,000 ITNs are being distributed in 14 high-risk districts, although there is a shortfall of 600,000 nets due to the withdrawal of funding from the United States government,' the Health ministry added.'The government remains committed to closing this gap through increased domestic financing.'Larvicides are being applied to breeding sites where available, although supply remains limited.'The country currently has adequate stocks of malaria medicines and diagnostic kits'The kits were acquired before the withdrawal of US funding early this year. Anti-malaria campaigns have been rolled out to target artisanal mining populations, who are highly mobile and often difficult to access.'Despite these efforts, challenges remain. Climate change continues to expand the mosquito breeding season and increase the vector population,' the government added.'Artisanal mining activities are increasing, and with them, the number of breeding sites and the population exposed during peak mosquito biting hours.'Many of these communities remain difficult to reach and are hesitant to engage with health authorities.'The Ministry reminds the public that this is the high malaria transmission period.' Malaria symptoms include fever, chills, sweating, headaches, joint pain, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhoea.
Read: Africa's healthcare funding crisis: 3 strategies to manage deadly diseasesZimbabwe's health delivery system has been crumbling over the years due to years of chronic underfunding, and a serious brain drain.
This week a minister raised the alarm over the state of the public health system after visiting a hospitalised relative.
Youth minister Tinoda Machakaire publicly invited President Emmerson Mnangagwa to visit hospitals to see for himself the state of the rot.
Addressing President Mnangagwa directly, he said: 'Under your leadership, many have found renewed hope.'It is because of this trust in your care for the people that I respectfully plead with, please find time from your busy schedule to visit these institutions yourself.'There is no substitute for seeing, listening and understanding first-hand what our citizens are going through.'The Health ministry, however, dismissed the minister's comments as 'part of a broader pattern of unwarranted and mischievous attacks.'Zimbabwe says its once vibrant health delivery system is a victim of western sanctions that have resulted in the southern African country's isolation from the international community for over two decades.
After the withdrawal of funding, the US embassy in Harare said: 'It is time for Zimbabwe to take seriously its responsibility for the health of its people.''For HIV, Zimbabwe has hit the 95/95/95 targets. They urgently need to be focused on buying antiviral therapy and getting nurses in clinics. They can do this.'
© Copyright 2022 Nation Media Group. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
Kitsepile Nyathi
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
21 hours ago
- The National
A cancer crisis is inevitable. What can we do about it?
The number of cancer patients is set to rise dramatically throughout the entire Gulf region. This is simply because of changes in the age of its population. Cancer can, of course, occur at any age but it predominantly occurs in older people. In the UK, 25 per cent of the population is now over 60 compared to only 3.6 per cent in the UAE. The number of new cancer patients in this region per million people is currently less than half that in Europe. But this is set to change rapidly with a much more European age pattern coming to all GCC countries. The risk factors for cancer due to age are already locked-in, so a health crisis is inevitable. There will be a significant rise in both incidence (the number of new cases) and prevalence (the number of patients living with cancer). The World Health Organisation predicts a more than doubling of both in the GCC region by 2050. The 'big four' cancers are those arising in breast, colon, lung and prostate, which make up 65 per cent of diagnoses. Each cancer has its own age profile and causation. As breast cancer starts rising in women in their forties, it is unsurprising that we are already seeing a huge increase. The other types will surely follow in the next decade. But a real puzzle is emerging. Over the past 20 years, we have seen a dramatic increase of certain cancers in the 30-50 age group globally. This trend started in the 1990s, so has nothing to do with Covid-19 or its vaccines. Lymphoma, melanoma, head and neck as well as the big four cancers are all involved. What is going on and what can we do about it? We know that age is the biggest risk factor and we just cannot stop the clock. But changing lifestyles are definitely involved too. The interplay of diet, exercise and obesity can alter the hormonal balance in the body. How we work, play and relax now is different from the past. Only three generations ago, the Gulf was a land of nomadic tribesmen with a healthy lifestyle. Subsequent generations now sit in smart high-rise offices, often with sedentary lifestyles and a diet heavy with processed food. But why is this increasing the risk of cancer? Our lifestyle contributes to the composition of the microbiome – the bugs that colonise our intestines breaking down potential carcinogens and toxins. Powerful data-mining artificial intelligence programmes are being used to study the huge number of variables involved. Within five years, it is likely we will understand more clearly the factors causing defects in cell growth control that allow rogue cells to emerge. These become the enemy within – the cancer. Greater understanding will allow specific tailored cancer prevention advice to individuals. Prevention and screening messages are always far more powerful if individualised. Risk-based screening for common cancers will be revolutionised by multi-cancer early detection tests, or MCEDs. These pick up abnormal DNA fragments released by tiny early cancers which circulate in the blood. Although there are several on the market, they produce too high a false positive rate to be used on everyone. They can make the worried well even more worried. Eventually, a reliable, self-administered finger prick sample will be enough to diagnose cancer accurately, but we're just not there yet. Understanding the reasons that cancer arises at a molecular level will lead to both better prevention and more effective treatment strategies. But oncologists need to steer a delicate path between hope, hype and reality for this increasingly common disease Technology will allow us to diagnose cancer in its very early stages where outcomes are best. The Gulf is well provided with increasingly sensitive diagnostic scanners, both MRI and CT. And molecular analysis of biopsies from cancers will provide far more personalised individual drug and radiation combinations. The future physicians' laptop will not only choose the optimal therapy but also predict probable unpleasant side effects. AI will be used extensively to understand individual interactions to treatments – both good and bad allowing perfect personalisation. The Gulf has many excellent cancer treatment facilities. But there are few effective networks allowing the combination of international expertise bringing multi-disciplinary opinions for patients and yet delivering care close to their homes currently in place. Treating cancer effectively is no quick fix, often taking several months of frequent hospital visits for radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The medical tourism model used for elective surgery is not feasible. The increasing cost of optimal cancer care is driving government health bodies globally to reduce the wide inconsistencies in treatment protocols. Networked care from a mixed economy of public and private providers is very much the future. It allows the development of a financially sustainable model adapted to a country's overall wealth. Increasing financial investment into an individuals' cancer care obviously increases the benefit to the patient. But there is a limit – a therapeutic plateau – where further spending brings no benefit for the patient. Poorer countries such as those of middle Africa operate well below it; most of Europe and Asia is comfortably at its beginning but the US is far along it, spending vast sums of money for no gain in the last few months of a patients' life. Networked care is the solution to providing the best individual treatment and yet minimising its toxicity both for the patient and financially for the payor. Coupling the intellectual power of a large central university hospital with skilled technical care close to home is what families want. Currently we cure over 90 per cent of patients with early-stage cancer. When the disease has spread outside its organ of origin, this figure drops dramatically. So, the emphasis has to be on streamlining the diagnostic phase and fast-tracking treatment. The current emphasis is very much on maintaining the best quality of life both during and after therapy. We are now far more honest with our patients and try to manage their expectations with frankness. Breakthroughs appear in the media regularly driven by commercial interests from biotech and pharma companies and their investors. Their hyped-up message can often raise false hope. Public education and better screening lead to earlier diagnosis and better outcomes. Understanding the reasons that cancer arises at a molecular level will lead to both better prevention and more effective treatment strategies. But oncologists need to steer a delicate path between hope, hype and reality for this increasingly common disease.
Zawya
a day ago
- Zawya
Eritrea: Voluntary blood donation in Central Region
Government workers from various institutions in the Central Region voluntarily donated 70 units of blood on 25 and 26 June in support of the National Blood Transfusion Service. The program was carried out with the participation of members from the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare Central Office, Hidri Distribution Company, and the Electricity Corporation of Eritrea. The participants expressed satisfaction in contributing to the life-saving cause, noting the importance of donating renewable blood. Nurse Sara Michael, a member of the center, emphasized that voluntary blood donation is a key factor in enriching the blood supply of the National Blood Transfusion Service. She urged the public to raise awareness about the importance of voluntary blood donation in saving lives. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.
Zawya
a day ago
- Zawya
South Africa's Biovac to make, distribute pneumonia vaccine across Africa
Cape Town-based biopharmaceutical company Biovac has signed a transfer agreement with Biological E in India to manufacture and distribute a pneumonia vaccine across Africa. Biological E's PCV14 – a 14-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, having broad serotype coverage – was found to be non-inferior to Prevenar 13 for all shared serotypes in the pivotal phase-three randomised, active control trial. Biological E's PCV14 vaccine is already licensed in India and is currently undergoing World Health Organisation (WHO) prequalification with the aim being to make the vaccine available to Unicef and Gavi markets soon thereafter. In parallel, a technology transfer is being initiated with Biovac that is anticipated to take three years including regulatory approval. Pneumococcal infection, which the vaccine protects against, is a cause of significant disease, being a leading cause of pneumonia, bacterial meningitis, and sepsis. WHO estimated that in 2005, pneumococcal infections were responsible for the death of 1.6 million children worldwide and while this has reduced significantly over time, newer and better vaccines are still needed. Dr Morena Makhoana, Biovac CEO, states: 'Biovac is on a steady journey of ensuring that it expands its footprint beyond South Africa. We do so by carefully selecting our partners and the type of products that meet our customers' needs.
