Al hodeidah: The Assistant Deputy Governor of Al Hodeidah for Northern Square Districts Affairs, Ghalib Hamza, conducted an inspection of the health conditions in Al Zahra District as part of ongoing efforts to address the spread of malaria and mitigate its causes.
According to Yemen News Agency, the visit was attended by several key officials, including Dr. Ali Al Haddad, Director of the Health and Environment Office in the governorate, Fawaz Al Adhari, Director General of the Tihama Development Authority, and Hadi Haij, Director of Initiatives in the governorate. Also present were Dr. Nabil Al Maqtari, Malaria Control Officer for the Northern Square, Abdulrahman Al Rifa'i, District Director, and Mohammed Mujahid, Mobilization Officer. Deputy Governor Hamza received briefings on the epidemiological situation, noting an increase in malaria cases and discussing urgent requirements to curb the disease's spread.
The inspection covered "Wadi Mour" and the swamps of "Al Nakhla," "Al Madaba'a," and "Qabbas," where excavations from heavy machinery operations have resulted in stagnant water pools, serving as breeding grounds for mosquitoes that carry the disease.
Deputy Governor Hamza stated that the visit was in line with directives from the Minister of Local and Rural Administration and the Governor of Hodeidah, aimed at investigating the reasons behind the rising spread of malaria in the district. He emphasized the need for immediate actions to control the disease's spread and improve health and environmental interventions.
He highlighted the importance of collaboration between official bodies and the community in fighting epidemic diseases, stressing the need for responsible action to tackle the root causes of mosquito proliferation, thereby protecting citizens and ensuring public safety.
Following the field visit, a meeting was organized at the Al Zahra Cooperative Association headquarters, where executive and health leaders approved a joint action plan to combat the epidemic. The plan focuses on pooling resources to fund field spraying teams in affected villages, with assistance from Development Knights.
The proposed measures also include restrictions on heavy equipment and bulldozer operations to prevent the creation of new water pools, the preparation of a technical study for large swamps requiring enhanced water drainage capabilities, and the establishment of a joint operations room comprising relevant parties to monitor progress and coordinate field interventions.