From Kent R. Hill, USAID Assistant Administrator for Global Health
On Africa Malaria Day, The President's Malaria Initiative is Touching Lives and Bringing Hope
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 24, 2006
Press Office: 202-712-4320
Public Information: 202-712-4810
www.usaid.gov
WASHINGTON, DC - Early success from the President's Malaria Initiative (PMI) demonstrates that a robust, comprehensive malaria program rapidly improves delivery of proven health interventions. Last June, President George W. Bush announced a landmark $1.2 billion initiative to reduce malaria-related mortality in 15 African countries by 50 percent, with the goal of achieving 85 percent coverage of vulnerable populations with high-impact interventions. The President's Malaria Initiative is a U.S. Government interagency initiative led by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) with participation from the Departments of Health and Human Services, State, the White House, and others. Today, on the eve of Africa Malaria Day, we see swift progress.
For instance, within four months of the President's announcement, interagency teams conducted comprehensive needs assessments and prepared detailed implementation plans for the three initial countries - Angola, Tanzania, and Uganda. Less than two months later, PMI launched lifesaving prevention and treatment activities in each of these countries.
As of today, the PMI benefits about 1.7 million people. In next four months, the PMI will launch a series of high-impact activities to benefit an additional four million people. Some examples of activities to date:
- In southern Angola, which is prone to periodic epidemics of malaria, PMI purchased insecticide and supported a spraying campaign in two southern provinces, including the training of 210 spray personnel. By the end of March 2006, 555,000 people benefited from the spraying program.
- In Zanzibar, Tanzania, the PMI distributed 130,000 free, long-lasting insecticide-treated nets (LLINs) through local public clinics, more than doubling existing coverage rates for pregnant women and children under five in both Zanzibar and nearby Pemba Island.
- To address the alarming rates of malaria mortality in the internally-displaced person camps in northern Uganda and other high risk areas, the PMI distributed free LLINs to children and pregnant women. By the end of March 2006, more than 275,000 LLINs were distributed, benefiting approximately 380,000 people. In addition, the PMI purchased nearly 300,000 pediatric doses of artemisinin-based combination therapies that, beginning in May 2006, will be distributed through health clinics in the camps. Today, the plant-based artemisinin-based therapy is currently the most effective drug for treating malaria.
Because malaria is both preventable and treatable with cost-effective interventions, we know that large-scale action can control and eventually defeat malaria in Africa. The United States, through the President's Malaria Initiative, is dedicated to that goal. For more information on USAID's work with the President's Malaria Initiative, go to www.usaid.gov/our_work/global_health/id/malaria/news/malaria_fs1.html.
The U.S. Agency for International Development has provided economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide for more than 40 years.
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