Browsing by Author "Mutengo Mable Mwale"

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Doubling National Efforts to Control and Eliminate Malaria in Zambia
(2014-3-31) Chipeta James; Mutengo Mable Mwale; Kamuliwo Mulakwa
In 2009, Zambia received accolades of praise from the World Health Organization (WHO) for demonstrating 66% decline in malaria deaths and there was a clear indication, then, that the country had reached the 2010 Roll Back Malaria target of a more than 50% reduction in malaria mortality compared to the 2000 baselines of malaria morbidity and mortality (1,2). As a result of this achievement, during that year's World Malaria Day commemoration held on 25 April 2009, Zambia's efforts and achievement were celebrated and promoted as a model for other countries to follow. This remarkable achievement was attributed to the country's multi-front approach to control and case management of malaria involving mass use of long-lasting insecticide-treated mosquito nets (LLITNs), scale-up of indoor residue spraying (IRS) and effective case management of malaria by the introduction of artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) for the treatment of uncomplicated malaria. However, barely four years down the line, these achievements seem to be slipping away. What has gone wrong? Can this seeming slump in national malaria control activities be corrected and if so how? This editorial of the current issue of JABS attempts to address these vexing questions by giving a snap review of the national and world-wide scored successes in malaria control activities, lessons learnt and thereby charting an evidence-based way forward.
Prevalence and Factors Associated with Schistosomiasis in Ng'ombe Township of Lusaka Urban District.
(2012-3-31) Kalungwana Ng'andwe; Mwakazanga David; Mwansa James; Mutengo Mable Mwale; Siziya Seter
Background:The transmission cycle of schistosomiasis requires contamination of surface water by excreta, specific freshwater snails as intermediate hosts, and human water contact. The disease is a rural problem, but urban foci can be found in many endemic areas. The Zambian Ministry of Health (MOH) reports that schistosomiasis is highly prevalent in rural districts especially those close to the Lakes and rivers. Anecdotal evidence suggests that Ng'ombe Township is the hardest hit by schistosomiasis in Lusaka province of Zambia. Though a number of studies including national surveys have been done on schistosomiasis, no study on the factors associated with the disease in Ng'ombe Township has been documented. Materials and Methods: A Cross Sectional Exploratory survey was conducted to determine the prevalence and factors associated with schistosomiasis in five schools of Ng'ombe Township in Lusaka district where a total of 260 school-going children aged 8-14 years, attending grade three (3) to grade five (5) participated in the study. Results: No cases of S. mansoni were recorded in the five schools of Ng'ombe Township.However, the overall prevalence of S. haematobium infection was 13.1% (34/260). Age was significantly associated with infection. Compared with participants of age less than 10 years, participants aged 10-11 years and those aged 12 years or older were 5.17 (95% CI [1.62, 16.49]) and 14.96 (95% CI [2.52, 88.65]) times more likely to get infected, respectively. Children in grade five were 65% (AOR=0.35, 95% CI [0.02, 0.40]) less likely to have Schistosomiasis than those in grade three. Pupils whose source of water at school was a public water tap were 73% (AOR=0.27, 95% CI [0.09, 0.90]) less likely to have schistosomiasis than those that were using a communal hand pump at school. Conclusions:The study clearly documents the persistent schistosoma infestation in a peri-urban school age population.