TKMI Initiative (Trans-Kunene Malaria Initiative)

Though Namibia is working to achieve zero indigenous malaria cases by 2022, in neighbouring Angola, malaria is a major public health problem, and remains the leading cause of death in young children. TKMI gained additional attention and resources in 2017 through the support of the Secretariat of the Southern African Development Community’s Elimination 8 (“E8”), of which both Angola and Namibia are members. Because the Angolan–Namibian border is porous and frequently crossed as part of daily life at both formal and informal points, the elimination of malaria in Namibia depends, at least in part, on the ability to control malaria at the Angola–Namibian border.

TKMI was formally launched on 25 April 2011 by the Angolan Minister of Health José Vieira Dias Van-Dúnem and the Namibian Minister of Health and Social Services Richard Nchabi Kamwi. The original 2011 TKMI agreement was signed for two years, and has been renewed automatically for successive equal periods, in the absence of withdrawal by either of the two parties. This agreement was taken in the context of a broader agreement between Ministers of Health of Angola, Namibia, Zambia, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Congo Brazzaville to synchronize border health interventions.

Both governments agreed to the following:

• harmonization of activities such as distribution of LLINs, IRS campaigns and larviciding;
• removal of custom duties for malaria commodities i.e. LLITNs, IRS chemicals;
• information sharing;
• car identification for malaria workers to easily cross the TKMI borders;
• identity cards for the malaria workers.

Project details

Combination of Interventions
Health Systems
Indigenous Cases & Importation
Information Systems
Vector Control
Vulnerable Populations

Apr 2011

Angola
Namibia

Border malaria