- Cases explode to 652
- Health facilities overwhelmed
- 5 deaths already recorded
Health officials in the Okavango District have officially declared a malaria outbreak after registering a staggering 652 cases as of Thursday.
This was confirmed by the JP Kavindama Hospital Chief Medical Officer Dr Kabo Tshiamo, who shared that health facilities in the district were under increasing pressure as a surge in malaria cases overwhelms limited medical resources following a surge in cases since the onset of the rainy season in November. He further noted that the ‘outbreak’ classification is based on trends from previous years, where current figures have exceeded expected levels for the same period.
“This usually means that headquarters mobilises additional resources to support efforts to fight and contain the outbreak. A team is being deployed to the district to do exactly that. Currently, JP Kavindama Hospital has 20 malaria patients admitted,” he said
The spike in infections—linked to recent heavy rains that created ideal mosquito breeding conditions -is worsening the region’s long-standing malaria burden. Latest figures show the district has recorded over 652 cases, including five deaths.
At JP Kavindama Hospital in Shakawe, the situation is particularly severe. Chief Medical Officer Dr. Kabo Tshiamo stated that the rise in cases has placed a significant strain on the hospital’s general ward.
“We currently have 36 patients admitted, and 20 of them are malaria cases. Of these, 12 are severe,” Dr Tshiamo revealed in an interview.
He noted that the growing number of admissions is stretching both physical space and medical capacity. A major concern is that many patients arrive late at health facilities, after the illness has already progressed to a critical stage.
“Late presentation makes it more difficult to manage cases and increases the risk of complications. Some patients end up being referred to Letsholathebe II Memorial Hospital in Maun or Nyangabgwe Referral Hospital for specialized care,” he explained.
Health officials say the crisis is being exacerbated by low community uptake of prevention measures. Some residents are reportedly refusing interventions such as Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) and the use of mosquito nets.
Deputy Council Secretary for Primary Health Care, Dr. Bakwena Moali, previously noted that the IRS campaign achieved only about 40 percent coverage due to poor compliance. “Some residents refused spraying, while others were not available despite prior notice,” she said.
In response, authorities have rolled out 40,000 mosquito spatial repellents specifically for the Okavango District. These repellents, which last up to 12 months, are currently being installed in households to reduce new infections, particularly in “hotspot” villages across the river where the majority of cases are recorded.
Residents are urged to eliminate stagnant water around their homes, use mosquito nets consistently, and seek immediate medical care if they experience fever, chills, or headaches.
