MaximsNewsNetwork: WORLD MALARIA DAY - MOZAMBIQUE (UNICEF)

MaximsNewsNetwork: 23 April 2010 - UNICEF: Mozambiqui - Malaria kills a third of all children in Mozambique and leads not only to deaths but also cripples productivity and contributes to poverty in many parts of Africa; in the last few years an aggressive strategy led by the Ministry of Health, with support from partners such as the European Union, UNICEF and the Global Fund, has been introduced to prevent its deadly impact.

The success of Mozambiques malaria strategy is already leading to concrete results. In the last year alone in Tete Province they estimate that the number of cases has dropped by almost 70 percent and death by almost ninety percent. The small lab does 60 to 70 blood tests a day.

So far the focus has been on giving nets to those most at risk, pregnant women, children under five and those living with HIV, but with the programme already demonstrating that nets work, the government is starting an ambitious plan to roll out nets to everyone.

Bonita Gomess life hangs in the balance. Her frail body has been attacked by malaria and the three year old is in a coma. Her mother anxious about her high fever took her 30 kilometres on the back of a motorbike to the nearest health post in the middle of the night. A rapid blood test indicated she had severe malaria with complications. Quickly referred to the hospital she was given a blood transfusion and put on quinine.

SOUNDBITE (Portuguese) Luisa Cumba Tete Provincal Health Director:
There is no doubt that malaria represents a significant health burden in the province of Tete because it remains the first cause of consultation, first cause of hospitalization and first cause of mortality particularly amongst children aged between zero and five years old.

Aida Olimpio is six months pregnant has arrived for her antenatal consultation. Its taken her a day to walk to the rural clinic Chiuta district. While she waits for her consultation, an education session is conducted on the virtues of sleeping under a long lasting, insecticide treated mosquito net. Having lost her first child from fever, she pays close attention.

After the examination, Aida is given Fansidar™ prophylactic that helps to fend off the disease, iron tablets to help prevent anaemia and a new net to take home. It should protect her and her unborn child for the next five years.

SOUNDBITE (English) Barbara Kerstiens, European Union, Mozambique Delegation:
We at the European Commission think that prevention of malaria is feasible, especially if people realise how serious it is and how by sleeping under a mosquito net they can prevent the illness and this can prevent to the cost to the family in the death of a child or the death of a pregnant women.
..........( UNITED NATIONS CHILDRENS FUND: UNICEF ) ........... MaximsNewsNetwork:
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News & Politics

Tags:

• World Malaria Day
• UNICEF
• MaximsNews Network
• EU
• Global Fund
• Mozambique
• Barbara Kerstiens
• Fansidar
• Portuguese