Namibia Steps Up Malaria Control Efforts as Cases Surge in Northern Regions. Namibia’s Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) has intensified its malaria response after an outbreak claimed 28 lives, with 5,898 confirmed cases recorded by January 19, officials announced.
Ben Nangombe, Executive Director of MoHSS, shared during a press briefing in Windhoek that 20 out of the country’s 26 malaria-affected districts have crossed the epidemic threshold. The majority of cases have emerged in northern areas, with Eenhana district alone accounting for 24% of infections. Okongo and Engela each represent 13% of cases, followed by Nkurenkuru at 12%.
According to Nangombe, more than half of Namibia’s population lives in malaria-prone areas, especially in rural regions. He identified the hardest-hit areas as Kavango East, Kavango West, Kunene, Ohangwena, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa, Omusati, and Zambezi. Children under five, pregnant women, and nomadic communities are particularly at risk due to limited access to healthcare.
The outbreak corresponds with Namibia’s malaria season, which runs from December to April, driven by heavy rains that create mosquito breeding grounds. “Stagnant water and puddles from the rain provide mosquitoes with ideal spots to lay eggs,” Nangombe explained.
In response, the government has implemented measures such as indoor spraying, distributing insecticide-treated mosquito nets, and running door-to-door awareness campaigns. Additionally, cross-border cooperation with neighboring countries has been strengthened to address malaria in border regions.
Nangombe called on the public to support prevention efforts and act quickly if symptoms arise. Early treatment of malaria is critical to avoiding severe complications and saving lives, he stressed.