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Malaria: Africa's Success Story

Posted Feb 19, 08 9:45 AM CST in Science & Health,  World 

(Newser) – A new anti-malaria effort will provide a mosquito net to every Tanzanian child under age 5, reports the Washington Post. President Bush visited northern Tanzania yesterday to announce the program, spotlighting Africa's hugely successful fight against malaria, with committed African and Western governments collaborating on the well-funded strategy. In Zanzibar, the children's infection rate has dropped from 20% to 1% in just 3 years.

While Zanzibar, off the Tanzanian coast, has seen especially striking reductions, other countries have made impressive breakthroughs: a 60% drop in two years in Ethiopia, a 64% fall in Rwanda. A combination of techniques—nets, sprays, drugs, and education—has transformed malaria from "the No. 1 disease" to a rare affliction, said one doctor. "Our challenge now is to keep the morbidity down."

Source Washington Post

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President George W. Bush meets workers producing insecticide mosquito nets, used to combat malaria, during a visit to A to Z textile mills in Arusha, Tanzania, Monday, Feb. 18, 2008. (AP Photo/Charles...   (Associated Press)
U.S. President George W. Bush gets under an insecticide mosquito net, used to combat malaria, as he visits A to Z textile mills in Arusha, Tanzania, Monday, Feb. 18, 2008. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)   (Associated Press)
Bill Gates, left, and Melinda Gates address a forum of 300 malaria scientists and policy makers Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2007, in Seattle. The Gates' appealed to the group to join in the goal of eradicating...   (Associated Press)
President Bush, second from left, and first lady Laura Bush, right, dance with Medoun Yacine Gueye, left, and Assan Ronte, second from right, from the Kankouran West African Dance Company during a ceremony...   (Associated Press)
A woman demonstrates the use of a malaria net and insecticide in Kenya. Malaria infection rates have plummeted in Africa.   ((c) schacon)
Members of the Kajwang community at a malaria control talk. Malaria infection rates have plummeted in Africa.   ((c) schacon)
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George W. Bush • Africa • public health • malaria • Tanzania • Zanzibar


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