Ethiopian Review

The Ministry of Health has denied UN reports of a malaria outbreak in southern Ethiopia.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported this week that a malaria outbreak in many low and midland areas of Ethiopia is worsening the nutritional situation of Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples Regional State (SNNPR), but the ministry said there is no outbreak at all.
Ahmed Emano, public relations head of the ministry, told Capital that though the disease is prevalent compared to previous years, there is no outbreak so far.
“Malaria is still a big problem for Ethiopia. But, the country has not experienced a malaria outbreak for the past five years,” Ahmed stressed.
OCHA’s report outlined that the malaria case build up has been reported in Amhara and SNNP regions. It cited that information received from the Welayita zone health department shows approximately 77,830 clinical cases of malaria have been reported in Boloso Sore, Damot Fulassa and Bolos Bombe woredas over the last four weeks.
“The regional health bureau is trying to address the situation and DDT spraying is underway. UNICEF has also dispatched 4,500 Rapid Diagnosis Test and provided technical assistance to the RHB to support the bureau in controlling the situation,” the report stressed.
The Ministry of Health reiterated that Ethiopia has managed to reduce the death rate caused by malaria so far by 55 per cent. “But we still have the remaining percentage to be dealt with. We are undergoing massive activities to reach a level where malaria becomes no more a health problem,” Ahmed concluded.

By Elias Meseret | (Capital)