Malaria outbreak in Zimbabwe blamed on poor roads
04/05/2010
Poor road infrastructure has been blamed as the reason for an outbreak of malaria in Zimbabwe.
The decaying surfaces made it impossible for anti-malaria spraying teams to reach Binga district in the country's province of Matabeleland North, Irin News reports.
Zimbabwe's economic difficulties have resulted in little or no road maintenance or upgrading in recent times, the news provider explained.
Rivers that have flooded have also been cited as an explanation as to why aid has not been provided in certain areas.
Dr Paul Hazangue, the country's acting provincial medical director, said: "We received more malaria cases from Binga largely due to intermittent rains experienced in that district - mosquitos breed and mature faster in such weather conditions."
It was recently announced by Zimbabwe's National AIDS Council that the number of 15 to 24-year-olds in the capital city of Harare who have sexually transmitted infections has significantly increased in recent years.
Written by John Curtis
