Millions set aside for malaria

NAMIBIA’S efforts to reduce the number of people dying from malaria received a major boost yesterday with a grant of US$8,5 million (N$59,5 million) from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria.

Putting pen to paper were Health Permanent Secretary Dr Kalumbi Shangula and Global Fund Director of Operations Dr Nosa Orobaton. Malaria is the leading cause of illness and death among children under the age of five and the third leading cause of death among adults in Namibia, with around 1 000 deaths recorded in the country in a year.An estimated 1,5 million people live in malaria-endemic areas and every year an average of 400 000 outpatients and 30 000 inpatients are treated for malaria.Health Permanent Secretary Dr Shangula told The Namibian shortly after the signing that the money will go towards vector control (largely through indoor residual house spraying), personal protection, surveillance and epidemic preparedness, detection and response and also research.The fund disperses grants for the fight against AIDS, TB and malaria to several countries twice a year, and have so far given away around US$7 billion.Recently the Fund revealed that as from the next round, grants will only be approved once in a year to allow countries time to use the money and report back correctly.Namibia submitted a funding proposal for around US$15 million to the Global Fund in round six and was given US$8,5 million.Namibia wants to use the money to train 338 health workers in malaria case management, while 92 000 pregnant women living in malaria-endemic areas and 28 000 children under the age of five will receive specially treated mosquito nets to prevent malaria.An estimated 50 000 people living with HIV and AIDS in malaria areas will also receive nets while an average of 600 000 houses/units will be sprayed every year for five years.Government provides the lion’s share (around N$50 million) of the malaria control budget, followed by Global Fund as a major funding partner.The World Health Organisation and Unicef provide technical support and training.Malaria is the leading cause of illness and death among children under the age of five and the third leading cause of death among adults in Namibia, with around 1 000 deaths recorded in the country in a year.An estimated 1,5 million people live in malaria-endemic areas and every year an average of 400 000 outpatients and 30 000 inpatients are treated for malaria.Health Permanent Secretary Dr Shangula told The Namibian shortly after the signing that the money will go towards vector control (largely through indoor residual house spraying), personal protection, surveillance and epidemic preparedness, detection and response and also research. The fund disperses grants for the fight against AIDS, TB and malaria to several countries twice a year, and have so far given away around US$7 billion.Recently the Fund revealed that as from the next round, grants will only be approved once in a year to allow countries time to use the money and report back correctly.Namibia submitted a funding proposal for around US$15 million to the Global Fund in round six and was given US$8,5 million.Namibia wants to use the money to train 338 health workers in malaria case management, while 92 000 pregnant women living in malaria-endemic areas and 28 000 children under the age of five will receive specially treated mosquito nets to prevent malaria.An estimated 50 000 people living with HIV and AIDS in malaria areas will also receive nets while an average of 600 000 houses/units will be sprayed every year for five years.Government provides the lion’s share (around N$50 million) of the malaria control budget, followed by Global Fund as a major funding partner.The World Health Organisation and Unicef provide technical support and training.