Covid-19 and Malaria have taken a heavy toll on the health systems

Health minister Sylvia Masebo says covid-19 and malaria have taken a heavy toll on the health systems besides causing loss of lives.

speaking during the covid-19 situation update from Mansa, Luapula province, Ms Masebo says like covid-9, malaria is not only a health problem by a threat to socio-economic development and requires a Multisectorial response.

She says malaria and covid-19 have weakened the productivity of citizens and reduced economic growth at both household and national level.

Ms Masebo says there is no doubt that thecovid-19 pandemic has impacted negatively on the delivery of malaria services such as the distribution of insecticide treated nets, indoor residue spraying as long as malaria prevention using drugs.

She notes that the similarity of malaria and covid-19 symptoms can also lead to misdiagnosis of one disease for the other or overlooking the possibility of co-infection.                      

And Ms Masebo says the country in the last 24 hours recorded 1,215 new covid-19 cases out of 7,267 tests conducted.

She says this is the first time the country has recorded a drop in new cases below 20% since 31^st december,2021.

Ms Masebo adds that the positivity in all but two provinces has dropped to below 20%, namely eastern and north western provinces which recorded a positivity of 32% and 22%respectively.