Much effort still needed to fight against Malaria in Burundi

The results of a survey on indicators of Malaria in 2012 show that some actions have been carried out to fight against it all over the country though a great step is still necessary to eradicate it effectively-By Yves Didier Irakoze

Dr Jean Claude Nkurunziza: “The test percentage has gone from 34% in 2000 and now we are at 17%. We expect to adopt appropriate strategic measures to reach 0% of people killed by malaria.”©Iwacu

According to the results, about two-third of households (63%) in Burundi possess at least one Mosquito- net Impregnated of Insecticide (MII). More than a quarter of households (26%) have at least a mosquito-net for two persons living in the household. To this, the use of mosquito- nets impregnated of insecticide by pregnant women and children has slightly increased since the 2010 Health Demographic Survey in Burundi (HDIB), going from 45% to 54% for children aged less than 5 years and from 50% to 56% for pregnant women.
Concerning the test percentage of malaria about children by region, for two children aged from 6 to 59 months over ten (17%), a microscopic test for malaria has revealed positive results. The test percentage of malaria is high in the region of North (24%) and weak at Bujumbura City Council. About the issue of test percentage of anemia for children by region, the inquiry has shown that less than one child aged from 6 to 59 months over ten (6%) are affected by anemia. It has been found that there was a variation of at least 1% at Bujumbura City Council to the maximum of10% in the northern region. This is caused by the chronic feeding prevailing in this region. According to the same survey, more than a half of pregnant women aged from 15 to 49 years old (56%) slept under MII the night of the survey. The use of MII by pregnant women is high at Bujumbura City Council (72%) and weak in the region of North (52%) and East-Center (50%). Concerning the use of MII by children per region, more than a half of children of less than 5 years (54%) slept under MII that night of the survey. The use of MII by children is higher in Bujumbura City Council (78%) than in North (46%) and East-Center (47%) of the country. Concerning the treatment of sick children, we took a sample of blood to be tested from 28% of those children. Again among these latter, 53% took an anti-malaria treatment the same day or the following day and the majority went through “Artémisinine” Therapeutic Combination –ATC- (40%).

Future perspectives

Dr Jean Claude Nkurunziza, Director of Integrated National Program for Fight against Malaria (PNILT) indicates that fighting against malaria effectively; demands patient people see the doctor and make a test because ATC is provided freely. He adds that they sensitize the population about malaria symptoms and the use of mosquito- nets. “In general, the preventive treatment is especially required to children of less than 5 years old and pregnant women because they are the most vulnerable group; for the first time, it is very important to spray malaria substance treatment in houses,” points out Dr Nkurunziza. He concludes that they will provide mosquito- nets in February 2014 in order to prevent malaria. He adds that they are making a great deal of effort to decrease it. The test percentage has gone from 34% in 2000 and now we are at 17%. We expect to adopt appropriate strategic measures to reach 0% of people killed by malaria.
The survey on indicators of Malaria in Burundi 2012 was undertaken by Burundi Statistics and Economic Study Institute (ISTEEBU) and Burundi Public Health National Institute (INSP). But the results have been announced to the public on 2 September 2013.