Implementation of Malaria Control Programme Gains Momentum

Sun City, South Africa,  World Health Organisation Regional Director for Africa, Dr Ebrahim Malick Samba, said here Monday that the implementation of the malaria control programme has gained momentum and all countries are expected to accomplish planned activities before December this year.

Speaking ahead of the Annual assembly of African Health Ministers, scheduled here from 1 to 5 September 1997, Dr Samba said substantial achievements have been made so far in executing the malaria control programme.

Many countries, according to Dr Samba, have now developed malaria control policies, diagnosis and treatment guidelines and Information, Education and Communication Materials.

Antimalarial drugs, microscopes, laboratory reagents and supplies had been provided to improve case management while health workers had been trained and the supervision of their activities planned, Dr Samba said.

He cited other achievements in the execution of the programme as increased use of insecticide impregnated nets, development of epidemic preparedness plans, early detection of malaria epidemics, the sensitization of political and community leaders at the highest level and improved monitoring and evaluation of malaria control activities.

Malaria remains one of the most serious public health problems in Africa.  About 75 percent of the population of the WHO Africa Region live in malaria endemic areas.  Nearly 18 percent of this population live under the threat of endemic manifestation of the disease.  Malaria accounts for 30 to 50 percent of consultations inmost health services in Africa with fatality rates up to 40% in severe cases.

Countries of the African Region of WHO began implementing since 199 with the support of the organisation the malaria control programme in line with a regional strategy often hampered by financial constraints.  WHO Director General Hiroshi Nakajima allocated 9 million dollars this year to the region in response to this need.

WHO/AFRO prepared to this effect a one-year project aimed at supporting 42 malaria endemic countries and accelerating programme implementation in 21 countries of the region.

The level of implementation of this accelerated malaria control in some of the countries has increased interested and attracted support from partners like DFID, USAID and the World Bank

The Organisation of African Unit Assembly of Heads of States and Governments has also pledged their support for malaria control in Africa through the Harare Declaration on Malaria Prevention and Control and in the context of African Economic Recovery and Development.

“A few years ago malaria was spreading geographically and in severity.  More people were dying of malaria than any disease in Africa.  But the problem is now being frontally attacked,” said Samba.

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