Health minister explains malaria drug resistance in Kigali

Health Minister Dr Sabin Nsanzimana has said that drug misuse, extended mosquito biting hours and breeding sites are contributing to what appears to be an increase in malaria cases in Kigali. He said this on Thursday, March 19, while appearing before the Parliamentary Committee on Governance and Gender Affairs, responding to concerns raised in the 2024/2025 report by the Rwanda Governance Board. ALSO READ: Malaria cases rise as govt scales up spraying drive Minister Nsanzimana said malaria has been increasing in Kigali. “In 25 sectors, mostly in Kigali, we have observed malaria showing signs of resistance to drugs,” he said. ALSO READ: Rwanda rolls out new malaria strategy after recording 87,000 cases in March The sectors are located in districts including Gasabo, Kicukiro, Nyarugenge, as well as some sectors in Gisagara, Bugesera, Nyagatare, and Rusizi. “Most cases are linked to high temperatures in these areas, but in Kigali, other factors seem to play a bigger role,” he said. He explained that drug resistance in Kigali is partly due to people taking medicines without guidance physicians, a practice that can make malaria harder to treat. “This also applies to insecticides and microbial resistance,” he said. Kigali’s changing lifestyle is also extending mosquito biting hours. ALSO READ: Rwanda’s new malaria control strategy detects 30% more unreported cases “Previously, biting time was estimated at around three hours, from 6 pm to 9 pm. Now, as many people stay out later, the exposure window has increased,” the minister said. City greening projects, such as eco-parks and rice farming in wetlands, also attract mosquitoes. “These initiatives are beneficial to the ecosystem, but we are working with the Ministry of Environment to manage mosquito breeding sites so that risks are reduced,” he said. “There must be a balance, even good initiatives can have negative impacts if not managed properly.” To address malaria, the minister said the government is taking several measures, including introducing new medicines to combat resistance, environmental management, insecticide spraying, and building the capacity of community-based healthcare workers for early detection and care. He also highlighted efforts to prevent non-communicable diseases, noting that people are being encouraged to adopt preventive measures such as engaging in regular physical activity and maintaining good nutrition.

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Health minister explains malaria drug resistance in Kigali