LUSAKA, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Zambian government has set an ambitious target of the total elimination of malaria related mortality by 2030, a senior official said on Tuesday.
Minister of Health Chitalu Chilufya said the goal was in line with the government's road map in ensuring that the country significantly increases capacity in responding to the control and elimination of the disease.
He was speaking in remarks delivered on the sidelines of the Elimination 8 Initiative (E8) engagement forum with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in Gaborone, Botswana, according to a release.
According to him, the government's substantial investments in integrated vector control measures has seen the reduction of malaria related deaths by about 70 percent.
The government's interventions, he said, included robust investments in health systems and a broader expansion of infrastructure.
He further reinforced the government's commitment in strengthening cross-border diplomacy in bridging the fight against malaria at regional level through fostering linkages and engagements.
The E8 is a coalition of eight countries in southern Africa working across national borders to eliminate malaria in the region by 2030.
Zambia currently serves as the chair on resource mobilization in the coordinated regional approach. Enditem
