The malaria risk map released by the Department of Health shows that there is a moderate risk of contracting the disease in some parts of South Africa – the far north of KwaZulu-Natal Province bordering Mozambique, the lowveld areas of Mpumalanga Province including the Kruger National Park but excluding Nelspruit and White River, and the north-eastern parts of Limpopo Province.
Malaria is a parasitic disease transmitted by bites from the female Anopheles mosquito, which then infects the body with the parasite Plasmodium. Malaria infections increase in the South African summer months from September until the end of May.
In an effort to reach the elimination of malaria, Humana People to People South Africa (HPP-SA) in partnership with ADPP Mozambique has been contracted by the Elimination 8 which is a Local Facilitating Agency of the Global Fund project, to implement the Installation and Implementation of Health Service Posts for Malaria Diagnosis, Treatment, and Surveillance for Mobile and Underserved Populations in 2 border areas of South Africa.
The program will conduct malaria testing, treatment and surveillance along the Mozambique/South Africa/Swaziland/Zimbabwe border. The aim of the initiative is to expand access to early diagnosis and treatment in the border areas, villages, and farming communities of the Mpumalanga and Limpopo Province.
The project which specifically focusing on mobile migrants and less resourced, hard to reach areas, will complement the National Department of Health of South Africa's strategy for malaria elimination and will be responsible the project oversight, monitoring implementation and providing recommendations throughout the project as needed.
Kingdom Chipupururu who is HPP-SA interim Project Manager, highlighted that the program is working closely and under the administration of the National Department of Health.
"We and the National Department of Health are working closely on this Project. We agree with the department on the strategic planning mechanisms and tools to use, the Department of Health receives monthly and quarterly project reports to review and approve."
