UNHCR addresses rise of malaria cases in refugee camps

18 February 2016 — UNHCR has distributed over 73,000 mosquito nets in 2015 alone to ensure all refugees, currently numbering over 144,000, are protected from the increased number of malaria cases in Rwanda. The Rwandan Ministry of Health has announced that the increase of malaria cases throughout the country are due to rising temperatures and inadequate practices of malaria preventive mechanisms, especially in the Eastern Province.

During the year 2015, UNHCR Health Information System (HIS) reported a cumulative number of nearly 10,000 confirmed malaria cases in all 6 refugee camps (Gihembe, Nyabiheke, Kiziba, Kigeme, Mugombwa and Mahama). Of this caseload, 10% are children under five years old. Furthermore, HIS reported 7 deaths with confirmed Malaria during the year 2015, which represented 3% of total reported mortalities among the refugee community.

The health and community workers throughout the camps have embarked on vigorous sensitization campaigns coupled with the distribution of mosquito nets to address the rising cases of malaria.

“I do everything to protect my family," explains Iribagiza, a Congolese mother of four in Nyabiheke camp. “I was diagnosed two months ago with malaria after giving birth to my baby boy. I was lucky that the diagnosis of the disease was made early and received treatment immediately. Within a week’s time I had fully recovered.”

Nyabiheke is a Congolese refugee camp located in Rwanda’s Eastern Province, a region known for its hotter climate. Due to an increase in the temperature, Nyabiheke camp has recently moved from an average of 60 malaria cases per month to a high of 241 as of January 2016. In addition to the 73,000 mosquito nets provided by UNHCR, the Government of Rwanda has provided more nets to help curb the surge of cases.

Additional interventions to address malaria in the camps consist of:

• Preventive mechanisms - removing or covering up open water.
• Availability of drugs to combat the new resistant form of malaria.
• And a program of early detection as well as early treatment for children under 5 which soon will be extended to the age cohorts to minimize the number of new cases of malaria.

Written by:

Protogene Ndwaniye and Chantal Uwimpuhwe

Byumba Field Office