U.S. Jumpstarts the President's Malaria Initiative and Ushers in Expanded Resources for Angola and Tanzania
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 15, 2005
1215-05-126
Press Office: 202-712-4320
Public Information: 202-712-4810
www.usaid.gov/iraq
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announced that, barely six months after the unveiling of the President's Malaria Initiative (PMI), the first major activities under the program began this week in Angola and will start next week in Tanzania. Announced June 30, 2005, the President's Malaria Initiative is an unprecedented commitment in the fight against malaria, dedicating $1.2 billion over five years to combat the disease. Malaria kills more than 1 million people every year, the vast majority of whom are African children.
"The new malaria programs beginning in Angola and Tanzania are a result of the President's extraordinary leadership and commitment to fighting this deadly disease," said Dr. Kent R. Hill, Assistant Administrator for USAID's Bureau for Global Health. "This is a significant step to protect children and their families where malaria is the biggest killer of children and a leading cause of death among adults too. We are working at unprecedented speed to save as many lives as possible."
On December 13, USAID began a large-scale indoor residual spraying campaign in Angola's southern province of Huila. The campaign, which will continue through March 2006, targets 100,000 households and more than 500,000 people. Leading up to the start of spraying, local Angolan workers were trained on how to use the spraying apparatus and in applying insecticide.
Immediately after spraying begins in Angola, USAID on December 19 will launch the President's Malaria Initiative in Tanzania, starting with the purchase and distribution of 130,000 insecticide-treated bed nets in Zanzibar. The activity will target the most vulnerable populations, primarily pregnant women and young children.
In addition, on the heels of Angola and Tanzania, the President's Malaria Initiative will launch in Uganda in January 2006, beginning with the distribution of 270,000 insecticide-treated bed nets for women and children.
All country launch activities are considered the first phase of comprehensive malaria programs, which will include indoor residual spraying and insecticide-treated bed nets for prevention, medical interventions to address malaria in pregnancy, and effective treatment with artemisinin-based combination therapies. Robust monitoring and evaluation activities will be conducted in all countries to regularly measure progress towards objectives and, in particular, to estimate the reduction in malaria-related deaths as the result of malaria prevention and treatment programs.
After significantly increasing resources for malaria in Angola, Tanzania and Uganda, the President's Malaria Initiative will expand to four more highly-endemic African countries by 2007, and five more by 2008. By 2010, the U.S. government will provide an additional $500 million per year for malaria prevention and treatment. This effort will eventually cover more than 175 million people in 15 of the most affected African countries.
USAID is the lead U.S. government agency for implementation of the President's Malaria Initiative, and works in collaboration with other federal partners, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The U.S. Agency for International Development has provided economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide for more than 40 years.
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