Malaria is a major public health problem and the second leading cause of illness and death in the SADC region.   Unlike some other diseases, malaria is preventable and curable.  With some precaution, people can avoid catching the disease, and so long as they seek treatment quickly, and complete the treatment it is possible to avoid becoming very ill if you do contract Malaria.

However, malaria control is a joint effort involving both the individual and the ministry of health.  If people are to be treated, clinics and hospitals must be equipped, anti-malarial drugs should be available in clinics and hospitals, staff must be re-trained and support must be planned for.  In addition, the Ministry of health is often responsible for programs to reduce the risk of malaria, such using techniques such as the spraying homes in the high risk rural malaria areas, and these operations should be completed.  It is essential that the human, financial and logistical support needed to undertake, monitor and complete these activities is sufficient to avoid unnecessary illness and death.

However, despite forecasts of a high malaria transmission season, the current cholera epidemics in Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, have resulted in scarce public health resources (human, financial, and logistical) being used to combat these high profile disease outbreaks, drawing public and political attention away from the concerns of malaria.  Although cholera is killing people, malaria typically affects and kills more people each year and its control should NOT BE NEGLECTED.

In situations such as this, it is essential that the malaria situation be carefully monitored, that preparations for responding to any unforeseen problems are in place, and that the public are informed on how best to protect themselves

Malaria can be prevented. People should sleep under treated mosquito nets, apply skin repellents in the evening and before sleep, wear long-sleeved clothing at dusk, and allow sprayers to spray their homes

Malaria can be cured. Treatment should be sought immediately if a person suspects they have malaria. Symptoms can include fever, headache, shivering, joint pains, vomiting and general malaise or body weakness.

If treatment is not sought immediately, severe malaria can develop. Symptoms of severe malaria include being unable to sit-up, confusion and delirium, bleeding gums, convulsions and coma. 

Those at the greatest risk of having malaria due to their lack of immunity to the disease are:

	Under-five year olds
	Pregnant women
	Chronically ill people
	All people normally living in malaria-free areas
	All people normally living in areas where there is little malaria

From now until March 2001, it is forecast that above normal rainfall will occur over most of Southern Africa.  This means that between January and May that there will be above normal malaria transmission over most of Southern Africa.  

During this period, people living or visiting malarious areas will be at a higher risk than normal of falling ill with malaria.