Harare, 12 April 2010- (The Herald)- The World Health Organisation last Friday donated vehicles, malaria equipment and a consignment of drugs to the Government to enhance the country’s disease surveillance mechanisms.

Receiving the materials, Health and Child Welfare Minister Dr Henry Madzorera said although Zimbabwe had made important strides in malaria prevention and control, other countries in the region were still experiencing high malaria incidence.

He called on Southern Africa to come up with concerted inter-country collaborations in the fight against malaria if the disease was to be eradicated.

"Although my ministry has achieved some success in malaria control and prevention, some countries in the region are experiencing rising incidences. Effective treatment and effective vector control should see us reduce the incidence of malaria and consequently achieve our 2010 Abuja targets and the Millennium Development Goal on malaria," he said.

The donated equipment include two trucks for the expanded programme on immunisation, 17250 long lasting insecticide nets, 20 camping tents, 200 stretcher beds, protective clothing, 2000 pump spare parts, 10 computers and printers and malaria drugs among other items.

Minister Madzorera said the equipment would go a long way in strengthening key strategies in malaria vector control. WHO country representative Dr Custodia Mandlhate, said the equipment had been sourced through the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund meant to assist countries’ response to malaria epidemics.

She said the equipment, transport and drugs would augment existing malaria control and prevention systems.

"With the resources mobilised, we were able to purchase a number of malaria commodities and also train health information officers in keeping a Malaria Data Base using the WHO standards. We have received the coarthemeter and quinine, which have been distributed to needy districts using the ministry’s drug distribution mechanisms," she said.

A total of US$81 430 has been disbursed to Masvingo, Mashonaland Central and Matabeleland North provinces to strengthen their malaria case management programme.

The handover of the equipment was also attended by the secretary in the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare, Dr Gerald Gwinji and senior health ministry and WHO officials.