Over 100 malaria prevention workers in Namibia's Zambezi Region have not received wages for nearly two months due to lapsed payment approvals. Regional health director Woita Kapumburu confirmed the administrative delay affects all malaria-prone areas but stated resolution efforts are underway. Workers began field operations on September 22 following mandatory training.
Spray operators report severe hardship, with some reducing meals to one daily while handling hazardous chemicals. Equipment shortages compound difficulties, as multiple teams share malfunctioning spray pumps. Workers considered halting duties but were instructed to continue despite financial strain. Many support families are dependent on their salaries.
National health ministry spokesperson Walters Kamaya acknowledged that pending authorizations were electronically distributed to regions last week. Payments will process shortly, he confirmed. This delay impacts operations in Zambezi, Namibia's worst malaria zone, where these workers must treat approximately 11,000 structures before December. The national campaign launched in August aims to curb infections after the region recorded over 25,000 cases this year.
Spray operators report severe hardship, with some reducing meals to one daily while handling hazardous chemicals. Equipment shortages compound difficulties, as multiple teams share malfunctioning spray pumps. Workers considered halting duties but were instructed to continue despite financial strain. Many support families are dependent on their salaries.
National health ministry spokesperson Walters Kamaya acknowledged that pending authorizations were electronically distributed to regions last week. Payments will process shortly, he confirmed. This delay impacts operations in Zambezi, Namibia's worst malaria zone, where these workers must treat approximately 11,000 structures before December. The national campaign launched in August aims to curb infections after the region recorded over 25,000 cases this year.
