Testing and timely treatment is one of the sure ways to fight malaria, Ministry of Health officials said yesterday.

Addressing journalists in Kigali, the division manager of malaria and other parasitic diseases at the Rwanda Biomedical Centre, Dr Aimable Mbituyumuremyi, stressed the need to strengthen interventions to fight malaria.

He noted that delaying to seek treatment only worsens the situation which could even result into loss of lives.

Patrick Ndimubanzi, the state minister for health advised the public to take necessary steps to kick out malaria.

"Medicine is available and is efficient, people who die of malaria in most cases delay to seek treatment. That’s why we have decided to bring the services as closer as possible to people to ease access even for the poor,” Ndimubanzi said.

Countrywide 27 cases of malaria deaths were recorded in September 2015, 30 cases in September 2014 and 22 in September this year.

Ndimubanzi said more efforts from both the public and government are needed to prevent malaria.

"We should all put in more efforts, people should be aware of the signs and symptoms of the disease such that if any is spotted, early treatment is sought,” he added. 

Pain in joints, vomiting, headaches and weakness of the body are some of the signs and symptoms of malaria.

Dr. Diane Gashumba, the Minister for Health, said that even though the cases of malaria deaths are not that high compared to other countries, much still needs to be done.

"The rates are not so high but with such a problem we don’t follow numbers because even if it’s one person dying it’s too much that’s why we have to keep on fighting,” she said.  

She said the ministry has so far given out 1.2m bed nets out of 6m supposed to be distributed starting from districts with high number of malaria cases.

Nyamasheke, Karongi, Gatsibo and Rusizi are some of the districts where the distribution was launched. 

The distribution is meant to be completed by the end of December this year.

The minister also talked about the new government drive launched this month to offer free malaria treatment to poor members of the community.

"We want to ensure that people in category one and two of Ubudehe get free malaria treatment. This will ease access to treatment without people being strained by financial issues,” said Gashumba.

She called upon people to ensure proper usage of mosquito nets and take precautions to fight malaria.

The measures include: keeping households clean, clearing bushes around homes, stagnant water, closing houses early in the evening, and also seeking early treatment when they start getting signs like headaches, weakness in the body or any other sign.

Other interventions to strengthen the fight against malaria include mass testing by community health workers, and indoor residual spraying.

A total of 271,718 households will be sprayed in Bugesera, Gisagara and Gatsibo districts while 198,970 were sprayed in Kirehe and Nyagatare districts.

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