Malaria Cases Decline in Muchinga Province Following Community-Led Health Initiative

Recent statistics indicate a significant decline in malaria cases across Muchinga Province, with reductions recorded among both adults and children under the age of five.

This positive development follows the successful rollout of a three-year Malaria Community-Led Monitoring Project, spearheaded by the Ministry of Health and supported by seven cooperating partners, including the Global Fund.

Deputy Permanent Secretary for Muchinga Province, Brian Sichande, stated that the community-driven initiative is currently active in 51 districts across all 10 provinces of Zambia. In Muchinga specifically, it operates in the districts of Nagonde, Isoka Shinsani, Lupika, Kanjivia, and Labushmanda, encompassing a total of 30 health facilities.

Provincial Health Director Dr. Daviod Silweya praised the program’s impact, saying:

“We have made tremendous progress. Malaria incidence is falling, and the number of children dying from malaria is also decreasing. This is thanks to the hard work of our partners and our own teams, who have invested in strengthening our healthcare system.”

The results underscore the effectiveness of community engagement and strategic investment in health infrastructure in combating one of the region’s most persistent health challenges.