Speech of Mr. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa
President of the Republic of Zimbabwe
on the International Forum on the 50th Anniversary of the Discovery of Artemisinin and on Building a Global Community of Health for All

Speech of Mr. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa

President of the Republic of Zimbabwe

on the International Forum on the 50th Anniversary of the Discovery of Artemisinin and on Building a Global Community of Health for All

April 25th, 2022

Excellencies, Distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Zimbabwe is honored to join the world in commemorating the World Malaria Day running under the theme ‘Advance Equity. Build Resilience. End Malaria.’

This forum is against the backdrop of the importance of investment and sustained political commitment to malaria prevention, control and elimination.

Zimbabwe has made significant progress in reducing the incidence of malaria over the period 2009 to 2021.

This has been enabled by huge investments in Indoor Residual Spraying, distribution of long lasting insecticidal treated nets and universal access to appropriate diagnosis and treatment services.

The use of Artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACTs) was adopted by Zimbabwe in 2009 with use of Coartemether and Artesunate Amodiaquine (ASAQ) as first and second line treatments for uncomplicated malaria respectively.

Due to its ease in storage, prescribing and patient monitoring malaria treatment, 3 million positive malaria cases have been treated with Coartemether by trained community health workers since 2013.

Malaria Community Case Management has greatly improved access to care by hard-to-reach communities with more favorable patient outcomes.

Of note is the fact that approximately 600,000 positive cases during the past 5 years were managed at community level.

According to the 2019 Case Management Audit Report, 94% of our malaria cases received the correct first line malaria treatment.

Due to a rapid resolution of symptoms and low probability of adverse events following administration, there has been high acceptance levels of Artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACTs) by the population.

This has improved adherence to treatment with only 3% of our malaria cases progressing to severe disease.

As a result, malaria mortality is gradually declined to 1 per 100,000 population in 2021.

After 11 years of use, the resistance levels to Artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACTs) remains below set thresholds.

My country remains committed to routinely monitor treatment adherence levels and to conduct therapeutic efficacy studies using standard protocols.

We equally stand ready to widely share results for the coordinated use and preservation of artemisinin for the benefit of future generations.

I thank you.