[US] $ 1.25bn to fight malaria in Sub-Saharan Africa

from African News Dimension

By Robert Isaur

Kampala (AND) THE United States under the President George Bush's Malaria Initiative (PMI) has launched a US $ 1.25bn initiative to fight Malaria in three countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, including Uganda, Angola and Tanzania.

Malaria is spread by mosquitoes and causes racking pain, fever and, if left untreated, death. It is the leading cause of death of about one million people and most especially in those in sub-Saharan Africa.

The Deputy Director, Office of Global Affairs, Mr Micheal Hollingdale said the United States will significantly expand resources for malaria in Angola, Tanzania and Uganda beginning in 2006, and will expand to at least four more highly endemic African countries in 2007, and at least five more in 2008.

“By 2010, the U.S. Government will provide an additional $500 million per year for malaria prevention and treatment. The goal of the PMI is to reduce malaria deaths by 50 percent in each of the target countries after three years of full implementation.

This effort will eventually cover more than 175 million people in 15 or more of the most affected African countries,” Hollingdale said during the opening remarks for a stakeholders meeting at Sheraton Hotel, Kampala, April 26. He said: “This new groundbreaking initiative challenges other countries, partners, donors and foundations to also commit to combating this disease significantly in sub-Saharan Africa each year over the next five years.

“Malaria accounts for 25-40 percent of all outpatient visits at healthcare facilities. Up to 20 percent of all hospital admissions and 15 percent of in-patient deaths are due to malaria. Fighting the parasitic disease is, therefore, one of the U.S. Government's highest priorities.” He said the activities include insecticide treated bed net marketing, prevention programs that target children and pregnant women and ensuring appropriate treatment is available and accessible.

The PMI coordinates with the Ministries of Health, the Malaria Control Programs and several local and global partners including the Roll Back Malaria Partnership (RBM), the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria (GFATM), the UK International Development Agency (DFID) and the World Bank. The minister of state for primary health care, Dr Alex Kamugisha said the malaria episodes are very terrible and leave patients impoverished. He said emphasis should be put on researching on local herbs that have been used locally for long.