The Zambian government said Monday that it was determined to eliminate malaria and will do everything possible to ensure a malaria-free country.

Minister of Health Jonas Chanda said the government was committed to ensuring that citizens are protected from malaria through the introduction of various intervention measures.

The Zambian minister was speaking in remarks to commemorate the World Malaria Day held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The World Malaria Day fell on Sunday.

"Zambia's health sector transformative agenda, in this case, moving from malaria elimination, can only be possible if the community is empowered to take ownership and leadership of all our interventions. We are resolved and determined to boldly move forward with our transformative agenda," he said.

According to him, the country's National Malaria Elimination Strategic plan which runs from 2017 to 2021 emphasizes a malaria-free Zambia and that the health ministry has embarked on a malaria elimination agenda.

The strategic plan entails indoor residual spraying, distribution of long-lasting insecticide-treated mosquito nets, larva source management health promotion, surveillance and research.