Windhoek: More than 120 malaria-related deaths have been reported in Namibia this year, with 122,612 confirmed cases, according to Minister of Health Esperance Luvindao. She has urged communities to cooperate with health workers conducting Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) to combat the disease.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the minister stated that 81% of the malaria cases were locally transmitted, while the rest were imported. There have been 9,956 hospital admissions related to malaria. Luvindao emphasized the importance of IRS at the launch of the campaign in the Kavango East Region, highlighting that community resistance to IRS hampers efforts to control malaria and endangers lives.

Luvindao addressed myths surrounding malaria and IRS, urging people to disregard them. Concerns have been raised, particularly in the Zambezi Region, about the effectiveness of the chemicals used for spraying. Some residents believe the current chemical is less effective due to its lack of smell compared to previous ones.

The minister noted that the increase in deaths might be due to individuals not recognizing malaria symptoms or delaying medical treatment until their condition worsens. Malaria elimination expert Dr. Richard Kamwi, who accompanied Luvindao, also appealed to residents to allow spraying teams into their homes. He explained that the primary goal of IRS is to kill malaria-transmitting mosquitoes and urged communities to support health workers in reducing malaria infections and preventing further fatalities.