Somalia: Malaria Risk Declines By Over 50 Per Cent

Malaria Risk In Somalia Declines By Over 50 Per Cent

29 April 2010. -- Action by UNICEF and partners to prevent malaria in Somalia has resulted in a nationwide reduction of over 50 per cent in the number of Somalis getting sick or dying from malaria.

UNICEF Somalia Representative, Rozanne Chorlton, says efforts have gone into both preventing malaria cases and improving access to effective diagnosis and treatment.

This includes community-based distribution of long-lasting insecticide treated bed nets to those communities living in higher prevalence areas as well as increased training of health workers to enable them to provide effective diagnosis and treatment of malaria.

UNICEF has distributed 732,000 long lasting insecticide treated nets over the last two years in malaria-prone districts across Somalia. This has contributed to reduction of malaria morbidity. A recent survey indicates that distribution of nets has enhanced coverage to about 45 per cent of households.

In the past six months UNICEF has supported the training of almost 400 Community Health Workers in the management of fever-related illnesses. These workers serve 180 of the estimated 480 health posts across Somalia. Efforts are under-way to expand the network of effective treatment still further.

New research commissioned by UNICEF Somalia into estimates of malaria transmission in Somalia indicates a major decline in risk from the disease from 2005 to 2009.

“While not all the decline in cases can be attributed to these efforts in improved control and treatment, it is gratifying to see that in such a difficult operating environment real positive change is possible.

“UNICEF will continue to train health workers and supply all health facilities with rapid diagnostic tests for malaria and effective drugs so that people who suspect they have malaria get tested and treated,” says Ms Chorlton.

UNICEF is committed to the achievement of Millennium Development Goal 6 – to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases – while guaranteeing universal access to malaria prevention and treatment by all the Somali people.

Malaria remains a major public health challenge in Somalia that requires a concerted partnership to maintain the reductions in risk seen since 2005 and prevent its resurgence.

Kiwis are invited to get behind UNICEF NZ’s UNDER COVER campaign to provide 35,000 mosquito nets to children in the developing world. It costs just $11 to buy a net from www.unicefundercover.org.nz People can also help by adding the UNDER COVER widget to their websites, blogs and social networking pages. The widget allows people to set their own personal fundraising targets and invite others to help them raise money to combat Malaria.

The UNICEF NZ campaign is part of a global UNICEF push to provide 25 million bed nets by the end of 2010.

ENDS

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