Press
Centre
Communities roll up their sleeves to
roll back malaria
Home Based Management Initiative Saving
Thousands of Children's Lives Each Year
GENEVA/NEW YORK, April 25, 2002 - In celebrating
Africa Malaria Day, the United Nations Children's Fund
(UNICEF), the World Health Organization and other Roll
Back Malaria partners have commended a new government-led
initiative that is providing rapid, appropriate, effective
and affordable malaria treatment to poor populations in
some African countries.
The Home Based Management approach to the treatment of
malaria is a simple and effective initiative that is revolutionizing
the treatment of malaria, putting knowledge and essential
drugs into the hands of those who need them most - mothers,
caregivers and neighbours.
"Getting the right drugs quickly to sick children
would save many of the nearly one million lives lost each
year to malaria," said Carol Bellamy, Executive
Director of UNICEF. "But for most African children
- who are the main victims of this devastating disease
- the drugs are either not available, not affordable or
not effective."
Home Based Management has been tried in selected areas
in several African countries with good results. In Ethiopia,
the provision of basic training and simple antimalarial
drugs to mothers to treat their sick children at home
reduced under-five mortality by 40 per cent. In Nigeria,
pre-packaging of anti-malarial drugs, with the correct
dose for the age of the child, was shown to double the
proportion of children who received proper treatment.
Combining prompt treatment with preventive measures such
as insecticide treated nets (ITNs) will result in an even
greater number of lives saved. In many countries ITNs
have been shown to reduce childhood mortality by up to
25 per cent, and reduce malaria cases by about 50 per
cent.
Uganda is leading the way with a Home Based Management
programme that has been tested in three districts and
is being launched as its official 'National Treatment
Policy for Malaria' on April 25, Africa Malaria Day. Uganda
is one of the first countries to introduce a national
policy for the home management of malaria.
There are plans to expand Home Based Management in other
malaria-endemic countries in Africa, starting in Burkina
Faso, Ghana, Nigeria and Zambia. But countries will need
the political commitment and additional resources to take
such strategies to a national scale.
This is a concrete example of one of the successful initiatives
that will be presented to world leaders for their endorsement
and support as they meet in New York from 8-10 May for
the General Assembly Special Session on Children. Some
60 Heads of State or Government have already confirmed
to attend the Special Session with delegations coming
from over 170 nations.
With Home Based Management, every village or community
will have at least one volunteer trained to recognize
the symptoms of malaria and provide the appropriate drugs
to treat it. The volunteers are mainly chosen from within
their communities and are committed to making a difference.
" Instead of walking miles to reach a health
centre and then waiting for hours, mothers will soon be
able to knock on a neighbour's door to get the help they
need," assured Bellamy.
Across Africa, malaria is a problem of staggering proportions
and appalling statistics. It is estimated that 300 - 500
million people are infected each year. At least one million
die from the disease every year, most of them children.
Providing prompt access to effective antimalarial treatment
is one of the major strategies for reducing the tremendous
burden of malaria on children and pregnant women.
The goal is to ensure that, by 2005, at least 60 per
cent of those suffering from malaria have prompt access
to affordable and appropriate treatment within 24 hours
of the onset of symptoms. African leaders at the Abuja
Summit on Roll Back Malaria endorsed this target in April
2000.
UNICEF works closely with WHO and other Roll Back Malaria
partners to support governments and communities in their
efforts to combat the disease. Through its country programmes
UNICEF is providing support to malaria control initiatives
in over 40 countries, mostly in Africa. Last year UNICEF
procured over $5 million worth of nets and insecticides,
with the aim of protecting pregnant women and young children
in over 15 countries in Africa. In addition, UNICEF's
support to community IMCI (Integrated Management of Childhood
Illness) in 12 countries has helped to empower families
and has enabled communities to access treatment for malaria.
***
For more information please contact:
Mohammad Jalloh, Communication Officer, UNICEF, New York,
Tel: 212 326 7516, mjalloh@unicef.org
For details of Africa Malaria Day visit:
http://mosquito.who.int/amd/abuja2002_first.htm
For more information, contact:
Mohammad Jalloh, Communication Officer, UNICEF, New
York. Tel. (212) 326 7516, mjalloh@unicef.org
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