Malaria prevention and control remains a major United States foreign assistance objective, a United State official has said.
Jennifer Savage, Chargé d’ Affaires at the United States Embassy made the remarks while presenting congratulatory remarks at the Africa University’s 25thanniversary ceremony last week.
Savage said that malaria prevention and control remains a major United States foreign assistance objective, adding that her government has supported Zimbabwe in the fight against malaria training of healthcare workers, provision of mosquito nets and anti-malaria insecticides as well as health systems strengthening.
“Between 1990 and 2002, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) provided nearly $8 million for construction and procurement of equipment for the College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences; the College of Health Services; a library and telecommunications centers; and an institute of peace.
“The strength of Africa University lies in the diversity of its student body and faculty, its inclusivity, the inherent understanding that to learn together is to grow together…. you truly create a sense that this is a university of Africa and for Africa,” said Savage.
The support to Africa University by the United States Embassy continues a relationship which Savage described as “tremendously productive and positive.”
Despite registering significant progress in the fight against malaria in the past decade, nearly half of Zimbabwe population remains at risk of the disease. According to Zimbabwe District Health Information System 2 (DHIS2) data, approximately 83% of all malaria cases and 61% of all malaria deaths in 2015 originated from three eastern rural provinces, with 42% of all cases and 33% of all deaths coming from Manicaland.
