Malaria Treatment & Prevention
Africa: Countries form Alliance against Malaria
Evelyn Lirri
1 October 2009
Uganda has partnered with nine other African countries in an initiative that aims to end all malaria-related deaths on the continent by 2015. The partnership, through the African Leaders Malaria Alliance was launched on September 23 in New York.
It is an initiative of Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete and brings together leaders from 10 malaria endemic African countries including Uganda, Tanzania, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Ghana, Rwanda, Comoros, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone and Mauritius.
According to a September 21 press statement from the office of the UN's Special Envoy for Malaria, formation of a joint alliance against malaria will ensure African leaders work to keep malaria high on the agenda at all levels. "It will provide a forum to share best practices and review progress in meeting the malaria targets," the statement says.
Uganda is one of the countries in Sub-Saharan Africa where high incidences of malaria continue to occur with 300 deaths registered daily, mostly among children under five years and pregnant women.
Though easily and cheaply treatable if detected on time and medication made available, the disease has not been eradicated the country and continent at large.
UN Special Envoy for Malaria, Mr Ray Chambers applauded the creation of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (Alma), saying that Africa's leaders have embarked on a historic mission to rid the continent of the deadly disease. "By creating Alma and joining together in an effort to defeat the deadly disease, they will reap tremendous benefits in cost-savings, efficiencies, and sharing of best practices--all of which will translate into millions of lives saved. With the prospect of success clearly visible on the horizon, there must now be no turning back until the job is done."
Statistics from the Ministry of Health indicate that because of its high toll on the population, malaria is responsible for the high poverty levels in the country.
This is because at least 25 percent of Ugandan households spend their income treating malaria. Dr Richard Ndyomugyenyi, the malaria Control Programme Manager said Uganda is currently spending up to $600 annually to treat malaria alone.
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