In 2018, 6.3% of people were living in areas of active transmission (Total population at risk: 1.5 million)
Over past three years, Botswana has achieved a remarkable decline in malaria cases on its point of entry in Bobirwa, Chobe, Okavango and North East districts.
Overall endemicity of malaria is reduced from 1876, 585 to 272- total confirmed malaria cases in 2017, 2018 to 2019 respectively.
The local transmission reduced from 271 cases in 2018 to 85 cases in 2019. Malaria transmission occurs during Botswana’s rainy season, between October and May.
Elimination Strategies Implemented
Community mass testing & treating activities implementation
Larvicide activities
Long Lasting Insecticide Nets (LLIN) mass distribution
Indoor residual spraying (IRS) targeted to at least 90% coverage
Case and foci investigation and case classification
Case reporting from private sector is mandatory
Quality assurance by national reference laboratory
Confirmation of all malaria cases by Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) and Microscopy
Treatment of malaria cases with primaquine
Best Practices
Botswana is centrally located in the region, sharing its borders with five other countries – Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. As such, it is a passage for many travellers and goods going to the north and to the south. Considering this, Botswana targets frequent travellers such as truck drivers crossing into Botswana with malaria testing and treatment.
Timely planning and roll out of annual spray campaigns has contributed to the success recognised in reducing malaria incidence; this coupled with immediate deployment of outbreak response teams in affected communities
