Africare Joins Leaders, Other Development Professionals at First White House Summit on Malaria

WASHINGTON, DC, December 14, 2006 — Africare President Julius E. Coles joined heads of state, other key government leaders and partner NGOs Thursday, December 14, for the first White House Summit on Malaria. The summit opened discussion for global partners to highlight their past and future measures to eliminate the mosquito-borne disease that, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, kills one child every 30 seconds on the African continent.

Africare between 2003 and 2006 began several projects in four countries in West Africa (Senegal, Nigeria, and Benin) and Southern Africa (Angola) to reduce child and maternal morbidity and mortality due to malaria. Over $6.5 million in funds have been dedicated to the projects through partnerships with USAID, ExxonMobil, Shell and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria. The monies have been used in large part to train staff and other local health providers, vaccinate people vulnerable to infection and distribute insecticide-treated bed nets to reduce the spread of the disease.

Africare Malaria Projects at a Glance

Africare malaria projects aim to reduce child and maternal morbidity and mortality through prevention and treatment practices. Most follow three core objectives:

1. reduce exposure to the malaria parasite
2. prevent and treat symptomatic infections
3. increase community capacity to respond to malaria and other public health needs through training services.

The project in Benin alone distributed over 76,000 insecticide-treated bed nets to pregnant women and children under age 5 and administered treatment to over 35,000 pregnant women and children under age 5 since 2004. That project will continue its work into 2008.

In the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria, where malaria is considered the most common disease and leading cause of human suffering and death, $3.4 million was set aside for the Malaria/Health Integration Project (HIP). HIP continues to play a special role in both technical and administrative management, supporting health facilities and workers in 18 targeted local government areas. A diverse array of health care workers have been trained, including medical doctors, community health extension workers, pharmacy technicians and village health workers. In February 2006, 14.5 million Nigerian naira (just over $112,500 in U.S. dollars) in initial drug supplies and insecticide-treated nets were delivered to the region for treatment and prevention. The project was established in 2003 and will extend into fall 2007.

Africare’s Senegal and Angola malaria programs ended, respectively, in June and December 2006. Combined contributions in the area of malaria prevention assistance totaled over $1.5 million. The project in Angola is currently pending renewal.

Africare’s commitment to eradicate malaria on the African continent will continue into 2007 and beyond. Coles’s representation at the President’s Summit on Malaria served as a symbol of that commitment and reaffirmed the important role Africare will play in the years to come.

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