Rwanda & Ethiopia:

With mass distribution of mosquito nets and access to powerful new medicines, malaria cases in Rwanda and Ethiopia declined by more than half, according to the January 2008 World Health Organization report. In Rwanda, malaria deaths dropped a stunning 66% and incidence fell 64% within six months of these interventions. In Ethiopia, malaria deaths dropped 51% and incidence dropped 60% within two years.

Tanzania:

On the island of Zanzibar in Tanzania, 100% availability of artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) to treat malaria was achieved in 2003. 90% bed net coverage was achieved in early 2006. As a result, malaria deaths in children under five dropped 75% and malaria-related clinic visits decreased 77% in three years. Bed nets are expected to save 2,000 children’s lives in the next three years.

Eritrea:

Eritrea employed four primary strategies against malaria in 2005 including targeted use of spraying, environmental management of malaria breeding sites, increased distribution of bed nets, and expansion of diagnostic and treatment services. Despite heavy rains and large epidemics in neighboring countries, Eritrea has reduced malaria cases by an astonishing 63%. The use of bed nets by children under five rose over 30% in three years.

Kenya:

In 2006, the Kenyan government distributed 3.4 million bed nets in 46 districts over three days in an aggressive effort to scale up bed net coverage for children. The result was a tenfold increase in children sleeping under bed nets and 44% fewer deaths projected thanks to children sleeping under these nets.

All of the examples above show that simple interventions have the potential to eliminate malaria as a public health problem in highly endemic areas of sub-Saharan Africa.

We have the tools- learn more at www.MalariaNoMore.org.