The settlement of Epukiro Post 3 in the Omaheke Region has been plagued by mosquitoes in recent weeks due to stagnant water in the area. 

Residents of the settlement have expressed concern about the health hazard if the situation is not promptly addressed. 

In response, a fumigation team from the Ministry of Health and Social Services began operations earlier this week as part of a routine exercise. 

Dalton Doeseb, a member of the malaria control fumigation technical team, attributed the recent increase in mosquitoes in the settlement to stagnant water bodies, particularly the sewage pond. 

Doeseb indicated that investigations revealed a broken water pump, which has resulted in water stagnation and created a conducive breeding environment for larvae development. 

He underscored the need for a collaborative approach to tackling the infestation. 

The broken pump falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Works and Transport. 

The malaria control team is employing a two-pronged strategy: targeting mosquito larvae at the source and conducting indoor fumigation. 

Regular monitoring will continue over the coming weeks to bring the situation under control. 

Elvis Uasora, the Chief Environmental Health Practitioner for the Omaheke Region, confirmed the increase in mosquitoes and detailed the region's malaria control efforts. 

Uasora reported that 57 malaria cases have been recorded in the region, including those from private health centers. 

Epukiro recorded one imported case of malaria earlier this year, involving a farmworker who traveled from another constituency. 

Uasora added that two villages in the Epukiro Constituency, Otjimanangombe and Okozondje, were the only areas that received rainfall and have undergone larvae assessment. 

The malaria control exercise will be repeated fortnightly across the region, with schools identified as a key focus area.