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MACEPA is demonstrating that scaling up malaria prevention and control saves lives, reduces illness, and decreases the economic burden malaria exerts on affected communities. National ownership and strengthened planning, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation are central to this effort.
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Second World Malaria Day commemorated on April 25
Countries worldwide commemorated the second annual World Malaria Day on Saturday, April 25, 2009. The Zambia Ministry of Health's National Malaria Control Centre (NMCC) distributed bednets in Katete District in the Eastern Province and conducted rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs), with the Zambian Minister of Health joining chiefs, religious leaders, and other participants in publicly taking an RDT. Zambia also conducted environmental management activities in the capital city of Lusaka and launched Coartem-D, a child-friendly, dispersible, cherry-flavored antimalarial drug. Read more about Zambia's World Malaria Day activitieson the NMCC website.
World Malaria Day was equally busy in Ethiopia, where the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) led a 30-day social mobilization road show that stopped in 30 towns, from Addis Ababa to Kombolcha. The road show included a variety of malaria messaging and entertainment, including a documentary film and songs about malaria, “spot video” messaging, and a video drama that educated viewers about the different types of malaria interventions. The FMOH also hosted RDT sensitization activities, a panel discussion, and a soccer competition.
Tanzania held a World Malaria Day commemoration ceremony with Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Mizengo Pinda, singer Yvonne Chaka Chaka, and representatives from Africa’s leadinglong-lasting insecticidal net (LLIN)manufacturer, A-Z Textile. The ceremony was held in the Mtwara Region in the Southern Zone, near the border with Mozambique. As a follow-up activity, in May LLINs will be issued to children under five years of age in the Lindi and Mtwara regions—the two regions with the highest malaria parasite prevalence in Tanzania.
Read on-the-ground reports on World Malaria Day activities in the MACEPA World Malaria Day 2009 diary.
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Photo by David Jacobs.