BackgroundGlobally,
malaria MESHD remains one of the leading health problems decimating population in Africa with an estimated 228 million cases of
malaria MESHD and 405 000 deaths occurred worldwide in 2018. In Zimbabwe, like other sub-Saharan countries, is fighting both
elusive malaria MESHD and
COVID-19 MESHD that continues to overwhelm the already overburdened healthcare system. Zimbabwean rural healthcare centres including Buhera district experience dire impact of
malaria MESHD and
COVID-19 pandemic MESHD. Therefore, the study presents the impact of
COVID-19 MESHD on
malaria MESHD control measures and reflects on indoor residual spraying (
IRS HGNC) activities pre and post the outbreak of
COVID-19 MESHD while introspecting milestones and challenges encountered when executing
IRS HGNC activities; and opportunities to integrate mobile technologies into
malaria MESHD elimination.MethodsA retrospective study of
malaria MESHD cases and
IRS HGNC reports was carried out.
Malaria MESHD cases per each health centre from 2015-2020 were collected from DHIS in Buhera rural district.ResultsThe study shows that the overall
IRS HGNC acceptance rate in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 was 100%, 58.5%, 66.6%, 52.8% and 83.3%, respectively. The absolute rooms sprayed in 2017 are 2.55% above those sprayed in 2016 but are 8.46% below those sprayed in 2015. The coverage failed to reach impact levels in most of the wards due but not lack of resources, limited to inadequate community sensitization, and competing programmes which were running concurrently with
IRS HGNC. Also, the study revealed that
malaria MESHD confirmed cases increased tremendously in 2020 as compared to the previous years, particularly from 2015-2019 because of delayed
IRS HGNC coverage,
COVID-19 MESHD restrictions, heavy rains, differed and inconsistent social and behaviour change communication, lack of community engagement, delayed procurement of equipment and lack of funding among others. ConclusionsThe study revealed that moving from
malaria MESHD prevention to elimination is possible in
low malaria MESHD incidence areas in Buhera rural district. However, new challenges including cyclones and
COVID-19 MESHD, disrupts of movements of medical equipment, delayed
IRS HGNC activities, social and behaviour change communication and IEC campaigns and mandatory national lockdowns. It is therefore imperative to integrate mobile phones into
malaria MESHD control strategies during
COVID-19 pandemic MESHD to strengthen awareness campaigns while maintaining
COVID-19 MESHD regulations.