Chronicle Correspondent

THE Ministry of Health and Child Welfare is on high malaria alert amid reports that 15 138 malaria cases and four deaths were reported in one week.

According to the Ministry’s Weekly Report on Epidemic — Prone Diseases, Deaths and Public Health Events report for week seven ending on 17 February 2013,  the total cases reported,  2 719 (18 percent) were of those under the age of five.

“The deaths were reported from Goromonzi District (1) in Mashonaland East Province, Harare Central Hospital (2) and Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals (1),” said Head of Epidemiology and Disease Control in the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare, Dr Portia Manangazira.

She said the provinces, which reported the highest number of malaria cases were Manicaland (9 149) and Mashonaland West (1 847).

The cumulative figure for malaria is 97 898.

“We would like to urge all provinces to investigate all malaria deaths to assist in the fight against the disease,” said Dr Manangazira.

The Ministry of Health and Child Welfare recently embarked on a national Malaria Indicator Survey (MIS) in a bid to measure the country’s progress towards meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in combating the disease.

The survey is characterised by day-to-day research that would show areas that are more burdened by malaria.

According to the report, no new cholera cases were reported since week one.

“The total diarrhoea cases reported this week are 11 789 cases and four deaths. Of the reported cases 5 484 (46,5 percent) and two deaths were from the under five years of age,” said Dr Manangazira.

She said the deaths were reported from Harare Central Hospital (2) and Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals (2) and provinces which reported the highest number of diarrhoea cases were Manicaland with 1 987 and Mashonaland Central having 1 888.

The cumulative figure for diarrhoea is 70 900 and 45 deaths.

Turning to typhoid, Dr Manangazira said nine new typhoid cases and no deaths were reported that week.

“The cases were reported from Chegutu District (2), Sanyati District (6) in Mashonaland West Province and Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals (1).

“The cumulative figure for typhoid since October 2011 is 6 835 suspected cases, 141 confirmed cases and 7 deaths,” she said.

Dr Manangazira said clinical dysentery cases reported in week seven were 1 377 with one death.

“Of the reported cases 386 (28,0 percent) were from the under five years of age. The death was reported from Harare Central Hospital,” said Dr Manangazira.

She said the provinces which reported the highest number of dysentery cases were Mashonaland Central (272) and Manicaland (251) bringing the figure for dysentery to 8 483 and three deaths since the beginning of the year.