Zimbabwe: 131 d!e from malaria amid COVID-19 pandemic

Whilst the world is currently battling with the wicked invisible enemy (COVID-19), at least 131 people have died and more than 135,000 infected in a malaria outbreak within Zimbabwe.

“The cumulative figures of malaria are 135,585 and 131 deaths, a total 201 malaria outbreaks have been reported throughout the country mostly from Manicaland, Masvingo and Mashonaland East. 90 outbreaks have been controlled,” the Health Ministry said Saturday on Twitter.

Authorities in Zimbabwe managed to reduce malaria cases from 155 per 1,000 people to 22 per 1,000 between 2003 and 2013, because of strong government funding.

But as the country continually faces severe economic hardships like others, as well as deterioration of health delivery systems, malaria outbreaks have increased.