Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) took part in the commemoration of the World Malaria Day 2017 and pledged to continue supporting national malaria eradication efforts.

Celebrated under the theme ‘End Malaria for Good’, the event held in the Lulamba Township of Chingola brought together the residents, KCM and other stakeholders including the government and private sector.

KCM Manager for Community Medicine Dr. Janet Banda Sikasote plenty of work still remains to be done despite a reduction in the number of malaria cases and malaria deaths in the district. She called on community members to permit indoor residual spraying at their homes and to refrain from the widespread practice of self-treatment for malaria.

District Medical Officer Dr. Charles Sakulanda, emphasized the government’s vision of a malaria-free Zambia by 2020.

“The government has a vision that by 2020 we should eliminate malaria. The government has put in place various measures to make this a reality and KCM is here in a big way to support us to realise this vision,” Dr. Sakulanda said.

Chingola District Commissioner Mary Chibesa who spoke at the same event called on all the participants to play a role in combating malaria which is a leading cause of morbidity for children under-5 and pregnant women in Chingola district.

Mrs. Chibesa noted that despite many challenges in malaria eradication in local communities, the disease could be eliminated through concerted efforts.

The commemoration drew hundreds of community members who were entertained and educated on malaria prevention through cultural dances and drama sketches. Rapid diagnostic testing (RDT) services and treatment for malaria were also made available at no cost.

KCM’s Rollback Malaria programme has covered an average of 24,000 households annually since 2000. Consequently, malaria incidents have reduced from over 100 cases per 1,000 population to 20 cases per 1,000 population in KCM’s areas of operations.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Sub-Saharan Africa shoulders 90% of the global malaria burden and more than 663 million cases have been averted since 2001. Between 2010 and 2015, case incidence and death rates in the region fell by 21% and 31% respectively.