Health Minister, Sylvia Masebo says the country recorded a 37 percent increase in malaria cases from 8.1 million in 2022 to 11.1 million in 2023.
Ms. Masebo says during the same period, Zambia recorded a 19 percent increase of malaria deaths from 1,343 in 2022 to 1,602 in 2023.
Speaking at a media briefing to commemorate World Malaria Day under the global theme “Gender, Health Equity and Human Rights” which falls on April 25, Ms. Masebo says everyday 30,400 people get infected with Malaria and 4 people die from Malaria.
She says it is even more disheartening that 18 percent of these infections are in children under the age of 5 years and 1 percent are pregnant women.
Ms. Masebo says Malaria is a serious disease and if not attended to quickly with effective treatment, it leads to death in a short period.