Nico Smit
27 April 2011
The elimination of malaria is an ambitious effort which, to be achieved, requires active collaboration across borders has underscored the launching of the Trans-Kunene Malaria Initiative (TKMI) between Namibia and Angola on Monday.
Richard Kamwi, Minister of Health and Social Services and his Angolan counterpart, José Vieira Dias Van Dúnem signed a joint agreement on Monday on behalf of their respective governments to cooperate on the implementation of a program that is expected to maximise malaria control along Namibia’s northern border.
The agreement will move Namibia further towards the goal of malaria elimination, prepares the way for Angola to eventually undertake a similar effort.
The first phase of the TKMI will include the Ohangwena, Omusati and Kunene regions of Namibia and the Cunene and Namibe provinces of Angola.
Under the agreement, Namibia and Angola will coordinate efforts to increase coverage of malaria interventions such as indoor spraying and distribution of insecticide treated nets to communities in these areas.
The two countries will also share expertise, logistics and infrastructure to develop coordinated efforts in the delivery of malaria prevention commodities. Once a pilot phase of the agreement has been conducted, the concept can be expanded to include other regions along the border which Namibia and Angola shares.
A unique aspect of the TKMI is the shared use of the port of Walvis Bay for the importation of malaria control commodities for both Namibia and Angola. The arrangement would make use of Namibia’s more advanced importation and transport infrastructure to ensure efficient delivery of malaria medicines and bed nets for health facilities in southern Angola.
A press release issued by the Ministry of Health and Social Services says that malaria places a significant burden on the health and well-being of Namibians, at the same time robbing the nation of countless hours of productivity each year.
“The elimination of malaria will save lives, and increase the productivity of the economy and boost the competitiveness of the local tourism sector,” the statement reads.
The TKMI is only the second initiative of its kind to be launched in southern Africa, the first being the Lubombo initiative between South Africa, Mozambique and Swaziland.
This initiative reduced malaria transmission by 90 percent, and the the statement from the ministry of health and social services says that by “drawing best practices from this success story, Namibia and Angola hope to develop a collaboration that can also provide further evidence to other countries in the region.”
AllAfrica – All the Time
Taken from:
Country, Angola Launch Cross-Border Malaria Initiative