The Ohangwena Region has recorded a total of 392 cases of malaria.

Of these, 154 cases have been acquired locally in Ohangwena, while 238 originated elsewhere.

Ohangwena cases started to peak during the second week of January, whereby Eenhana recorded 107 cases, followed by Engela with 71 cases and Okongo with 47 cases.

The local cases recorded in Eenhana are 69, followed by Okongo with 60 cases and 25 cases recorded in Engela. 

George Jeremiah, Acting Health Director in Ohangwena, says there has been a shortage of testing materials for the past two months and that they now rely solely on microscope tests, which are carried out in laboratories in the region.

Another drug, primaquine, has also been out of stock since the middle of last year, but Jeremiah pointed out that the main drug is available.

"It's true that we are in a situation that is not good concerning malaria. If you look at the statistics of 2023, malaria cases have been a bit up, and in the first and second weeks, malaria is picking up. The local cases are very dangerous; it means that the vector is within Namibia and not outside."

In its efforts to contain the further spread of malaria, the region dispatched a team of 241 spraying personnel already last year to the three districts.

Ohangwena's Chief Environment Health Practitioner Coordinating Malaria Spray Programme, Justine Haikali, says thus far, the teams have covered 35% of targeted villages and that only a few households have refused the teams to spray their homes, unlike in the past when many were reluctant to have their homes sprayed.

Haikali says the teams are providing integrated vector control interventions, which include indoor residual spraying targeted villages and larviciding potential and active water bodies where mosquitoes tend to breed, but there are challenges such as a lack of sufficient vehicles and equipment breakdowns.

"The vehicles are not sufficient, hence the low coverage and breakdown of pumps since 2022 that we never experienced in our programmes, where the plunger adopters, which are critical spare parts, have started giving us problems and our pumps are giving us problems. And instead of individuals spraying with their own individual pumps, they are sharing, and this is a limiting factor."

Local residents are grateful for the initiative by the government.

"I am also worried, and I don't want to contract the malaria virus, especially looking at the amount of water that is in my house since it is currently raining and provides a fertile breeding ground for mosquitoes."

Last year, four people died from Malaria in the region.