LUANDA, July 27 (Xinhua) -- At least 377,599 new cases of malaria were registered in Angola's northern Malanje province during the first half of this year, which resulted in the death of 268 people, the supervisor of the provincial program of fight against malaria, Luis Demba, said on Tuesday.
Demba explained that in comparison with the same period of 2020 there has been an increase in the number of cases and a reduction in the number of deaths.
According to Angola's Health Minister Silvia Lutucuta, Malanje is one of the most affected provinces. Lutucuta said early this month that the country registered, between January and May 2021, nearly 3.8 million cases of malaria and 5,573 deaths, representing an increase of cases, but a reduction of deaths compared to the same period of 2020.
"Malaria is the leading cause of death in the country, affecting more pregnant women and children under five years old in terms of mortality," Lutucuta said, adding that most of the deaths have been registered among vulnerable families battered with severe anemia, malnutrition and complications often associated with malaria.
The Ministry of Health has said it is strengthening its methodological guidelines, and that it is up to the provinces and municipalities to make them operational through the implementation of a multi-sector contingency plan to respond to malaria, such as an emergency plan for arboviruses, strengthened surveillance, the search for cases, and improvement of medical assistance to patients. Enditem