Malaria increase blamed on substandard bed nets

The Ministry of Health has blamed the rising rate of malaria incidences in the country on substandard bed nets. The nets were procured in 2013 from Netprotect, a firm based in Denmark. Speaking at a news conference in Kigali, yesterday, the Minister for Health, Dr Agnes Binagwaho, said three million mosquito nets currently in use in the country are less efficient because they do not have enough medicine to kill mosquitoes. Dr Binagwaho explained that the World Health Organisation (WHO) had certified the bednets that Netprotect supplied but later due to a high increase of malaria cases, the ministry carried out its own study, which indicated that the bednets were less efficient. She said government is considering suing Netprotect, which wants neither to replace the fake mosquito nets nor refund the by unisales href=#>money. The minister said besides paying $5 per a bednet, the ministry paid a lot on transport and taxes which must all be refunded by Netprotect. But the minister urged Rwandans to continue using the nets as government looks into ways to have them replaced in earnest. “Although the bednets in use today are less effective, people must keep on using them to minimise the risk of being infected. The ministry has started replacing them with efficient bednets…it recently distributed 900,000 and will be issuing two million new bednets next month,” Dr Binagwaho said. However, she noted that the current malaria increase is not unique to Rwanda but across Africa due to global warming which stimulates the multiplication of mosquitoes. A mini survey by The New Times in various health centres and hospitals indicate that there has been an increase in malaria cases since the fourth quarter of 2014. Kirehe District reported 43,098 malaria cases in December, last year, up from 37,812 in November. The increase is reportedly attributed to the rain season and swamps because the most affected six sectors are close to Akagera River. Dr Corine Karema, the head of malaria division in Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC), told The New Times that Kirehe District leads in malaria prevalence. “Malaria is really a problem here nowadays. We reported to the ministry last month,” said Jacqueline Murekatete, the Kirehe vice mayor in charge of social affairs. Increase in cases as reported Murekatete estimated 80 malaria cases registered everyday at the district hospital while many other patients are treated at the community level. Dr Jean Nepomuscene Uwiringiyemungu, the director of Kirehe Hospital, said malaria cases increased to 53 per cent of all diseases in December from 48 per cent in November. Dr Uwiringiyemungu, however, said the hospital has registered minimal deaths resulting from malaria because they encourage residents to seek early treatment in case they feel malaria symptoms. “The district and stakeholders have started outreach in the communities in order to remind residents of the methods of prevention such as sleeping under mosquito nets, clearing bushes around, closing windows and doors at the sunset and avoiding stagnant water near houses,” Murekatete. She added that community health workers in each village are doing a daily follow up. Elsewhere, Rilima health centre in Bugesera District also reported a high increase in malaria prevalence last month. Health workers said the rate of malaria cases reported in October went to about five times in December. The Executive Secretary of Rilima Sector, Gaspard Gasirabo, said malaria increase is temporal but it is rising rapidly this season. Nyamagabe Hospital said malaria claimed the lives of 14 children in the Financial Year 2013-2014, while residents of Murundi Sector in Kayonza District said malaria cases had been rising since July last year. In Gatsibo District, too, a community health worker in Kiramuruzi Sector, Christopher Bazatsinda, told this newspaper that malaria cases have recently increased among both children and adults. Nathan Mugume, head of division, Rwanda Health Communication, said though there is a remarkable increase, deaths resulting from malaria decreased to 352 in 2014 from 412 in 2013. Mugume reaffirmed the ministry’s goal to have zero case of malaria infections and urged Rwandans against complacency in the fight against malaria. Rwanda was early last year recognised for its battle against malaria, by the African Leaders Malaria Alliance Awards for Excellence in Vector Control. The country was also rated as being on course to achieving the Millennium Development Goal of combating malaria. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Malaria increase blamed on substandard bed nets