Ethiopia Launches Five-Year, $447M Malaria Control Program

The Ethiopian Ministry of Health last week launched a five-year, $447 million malaria treatment and prevention program funded by the government, donors and other partners in the health sector, the Ethiopian Reporter reports. The project aims to provide access to malaria treatment to 68% of the country's 73 million people living in malaria-endemic areas by 2010, when the program is expected to be fully implemented. The program also includes early diagnosis and treatment, the distribution of insecticide-treated nets and indoor-insecticide spraying. In addition, the program includes the creation of health facilities, as well as the training and deployment of as many as 37,000 health workers, Zerihun Tadesse, acting head of disease prevention and control at the health ministry, said. In 2004 and 2005, malaria was the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Ethiopia, accounting for 16.6% of out-patient visits, 15% of hospital admissions and 29% of deaths, Tadesse said (Ethiopia Reporter, 4/28).