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Nets boost Africa's malaria fight Nets boost Africa's malaria fight
(about 14 hours later)
Countries in sub-Saharan Africa are making significant progress in fighting malaria, new statistics from Unicef and the World Health Organisation show.Countries in sub-Saharan Africa are making significant progress in fighting malaria, new statistics from Unicef and the World Health Organisation show.
Distribution of mosquito nets, widely regarded as the most effective prevention against malaria, has grown substantially across the region.Distribution of mosquito nets, widely regarded as the most effective prevention against malaria, has grown substantially across the region.
But the new Unicef report also reveals that fewer children are getting access to treatments for the disease. In countries where they are used, malaria deaths have dropped by half.
Every year, 800,000 African children under the age of five die from malaria. But even with some progress, about 800,000 African children under five still die from malaria each year.
Experts agree the simplest, most cost-effective way to prevent those deaths is the distribution of insecticide-treated bed nets. Sixteen of 20 sub-Saharan countries report that the number of children using the mosquito nets has tripled since 2000.
Studies show that in countries where they are in use, malaria deaths have dropped by half. The new report from the UN children's fund reveals that since 2004 the annual production of bed nets has more than doubled, from 30 million to 63 million.
Drug shortage
The new report from the UN children's fund reveals that since 2004 the annual production of bed nets has more than doubled, and since the year 2000, of the 20 sub-Saharan countries being monitored, 16 have tripled their distribution of nets.
In Gambia, half of all children now have bed nets.In Gambia, half of all children now have bed nets.
Ethiopia has distributed 18m in the last two years alone.Ethiopia has distributed 18m in the last two years alone.
The report also finds that national health programmes in malaria-endemic countries have benefited from a tenfold increase in international funding in the last decade.
Drug shortage
But while Unicef and the WHO are pleased with the progress in preventative measures, the death toll among African children remains unchanged.But while Unicef and the WHO are pleased with the progress in preventative measures, the death toll among African children remains unchanged.
Every year, 800,000 African children under the age of five die from malaria.
Meanwhile, fewer children are receiving life-saving drugs if they do get malaria.Meanwhile, fewer children are receiving life-saving drugs if they do get malaria.
This is because most African countries have followed WHO advice and phased out older treatments which had become ineffective - but have not yet brought in the newer, more expensive malaria treatment drugs.This is because most African countries have followed WHO advice and phased out older treatments which had become ineffective - but have not yet brought in the newer, more expensive malaria treatment drugs.
But, the WHO says, increased production of the new treatments is now bringing prices down.But, the WHO says, increased production of the new treatments is now bringing prices down.
Since 2003, artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) have become the norm for use in national health programmes, according to the Unicef report.
"Still, it's a minority of children that get access to the best types of antimalarials," the chief of global health for Unicef, Dr Peter Salama, said.
"But with the strong backing of some of the international donors and the price of ACTs starting to be reduced, I think governments are becoming more confident now that this will be a sustainable strategy for antimalaria treatment in the future," he added.