Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa has urged for increased efforts in the fight against malaria, saying that in Tanzania, as in many other parts of sub-Saharan Africa, the disease is killing more people than HIV/Aids does.
In a monthly address to the nation, Mkapa appealed to Tanzanians and the international community to address the campaign against malaria with due seriousness, pointing out that it is possible to avoid malaria-related deaths.
”With 100 000 malaria-related deaths every year, Tanzania is leading in such deaths within the Southern African Development Community, but we fear HIV/Aids most,” he said.
He said fighting malaria amounts to fighting against poverty, as Tanzania is losing 122-billion shillings (about $111-million) a year in such direct treatment, as well as other hidden costs such as lost man-hours.
”This loss is outrageous, especially in a poor country like ours,” Mkapa said, and appealed for international support to make available funds for malaria research in order to find a vaccine and better drugs.
According to official records, 70% of the victims of malaria are children under five years old and pregnant women.
Mkapa quoted United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) statistics that indicate the use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets can reduce malaria cases by 60% and deaths among children by 20%.
Unicef statistics estimate that malaria kills 3 000 children in Africa every day and remains the leading cause of childhood deaths in the continent and one of the major threats to the health of pregnant women. — Sapa-AFP