Daijiworld Media Network - Kigali
Kigali, Apr 22: Rwanda is set to roll out an innovative malaria prevention strategy aimed at further reducing the transmission of the disease across the nation. Health officials have announced that if one person in a household is diagnosed with malaria, all members of that household will be tested, with any asymptomatic cases also receiving treatment to prevent further spread.
Epaphrodite Habanabakize, senior officer for Malaria Prevention at the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC), shared the new approach with national broadcaster Rwanda TV on Monday. He explained that this strategy would be first implemented in the capital city, Kigali, and later expanded nationwide.
"The aim is to reduce malaria transmission within communities," Habanabakize said. "Once transmission is lowered, it serves as a form of prevention, ensuring that all members of the household are treated, even if they are not showing symptoms."
According to the plan, if a person is diagnosed with malaria at a health facility, a health worker will visit the home to test all household members. Those found to carry the malaria parasite, even if asymptomatic, will receive the necessary medication.
This initiative is designed to break the chain of malaria transmission by treating people who are carrying the parasite but have not yet shown symptoms. The idea is to prevent mosquitoes from biting infected individuals, which would otherwise contribute to the spread of the disease.
Rwanda has already seen notable success in reducing malaria cases in recent years. Between the 2016/2017 and 2023/2024 fiscal years, the country saw a dramatic decrease in cases, from 4.8 million to 620,000. Malaria-related deaths have also decreased significantly. However, malaria continues to pose a public health challenge, with 802,428 cases recorded in 2024, according to RBC data.
In 2020, Rwanda introduced drone-based larvicide spraying in swampy areas to complement traditional indoor residual spraying, targeting mosquito breeding sites. These efforts, along with the new strategy, reflect Rwanda's comprehensive approach to combating malaria.
The World Health Organization notes that malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by a parasite and transmitted to humans through mosquito bites. It is preventable and curable, and the symptoms can range from mild fever and chills to severe fatigue, confusion, and difficulty breathing. Infants, young children, pregnant women, and individuals with compromised immune systems are at higher risk of severe infection.