75,195 cases reported nationwide in May
Staff Reporter
NAMIBIA continues to grapple with the spread of malaria, as cases continue to rise unabated. During the reporting period of 5 to 11 May 2025, the country reported 5,921 cases, bringing the total number of malaria cases to 75,195 reported nationwide.
In total, the country has reported 132 malaria-induced deaths since the beginning of the year.
This is according to a malaria situation report shared by the Ministry of Health and Social Services. According to Dr. Hilma Nangombe, a total of eight new deaths were reported from Rundu (three), Nkurenkuru (two), Oshakati (two), and Outapi (one).
The top five districts that collectively reported 71% (4,205) of all new cases in week 19 were: Katima Mulilo (21%), Nkurenkuru (18%), Andara (14%), Outapi (11%), and Nyangana (6%).
The number of malaria cases recorded in week 19 represented a 12% decrease compared to the previous week (week 18), during which 6,714 cases were reported.
Dr. Nangombe indicated that cases were reported mostly among males (58%). Females make up 42%, of which 3% (429) are pregnant women.
Admissions in week 19 decreased by 144 compared to the previous week. In total, there are 555 patients admitted for malaria across the nation, with the age group of 5 to 9 years reporting the highest number of cases (23 deaths), which accounts for 17% of all reported malaria deaths.
Public health actions taken, among others, according to Dr. Nangombe, include continued support by the national level to the affected districts, treatment of breeding sites in malaria-endemic regions, and ongoing risk communication and community engagement in affected districts and on local radios.
She highlighted a few of the challenges as inadequate vehicles to accommodate all response activities, insufficient IT equipment and gadgets for data capturing and reporting as some are allocated to other programmes, late health-seeking behavior from patients still being observed, as well as periodic stock-outs of pharmaceutical commodities in some health facilities and inadequate pharmacists in some affected regions to meet the demand.
Picture for illustrative purposes only.
