The World Bank Becomes Interested in Malaria Control (14)
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Dear Colleagues,
John Dada, President of the Fansuam Foundation, a Nigerian NGO
sent me this in response to my question whether or not malaria
and mosquitoes were a problem in Kafanchan:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
This is the season for malaria Peter, the rains, the drainages
give the mosquitoes all they need. And people have to spend long
hours on the farms so they can't run away from the insects.
Every household has at least one person down with malaria EVERY
week of this season. In terms of loss of hours of work, this
amounts to major losses for manual farm work. I get it every 3
weeks or so myself. Yes, Kafanchan is endemic for mosquitoes.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
The feedback I am getting about the importance of addressing the
malaria situation in Africa is clear. It should be addressed and
made a serious priority.
The UN, the Millennium Development Goals, Professor Jeffrey
Sachs, et al. have raised the awareness about malaria. The World
Bank has an expanded initiative. The challenge is to get a good
program implemented that delivers good durable results at the
lowest possible costs.
Eventually every community in Africa should be free of mosqui-
toes and the vectors for malaria. A start must be made some-
where. In the USA there has been great success with Public Pri-
vate Partnerships... maybe similar structures in the "south" in-
volving government, community, and technical expertise, funding
resources and management could be useful in making practical
progress.
A project to address the mosquito vector in Monrovia, Liberia
has been developed. I hope it will get the support it needs.
Other projects, I am sure are being planned. I would be inter-
ested in learning more about them. I hope it will be possible to
use the energy of the African private sector and the communities
that will benefit to drive a successful program. As others have
pointed out, there are many pieces to the puzzle... and some of
the pieces need local people to be involved, especially as it
relates to mosquito breeding places and stagnant water.
Does anyone on this list have any contact with the World Bank in
Washington and the program they have initiated? Or the Roll Back
Malaria secretariat in Geneva? Or the Global Fund secretariat's
malaria unit?
Sincerely
Peter Burgess
Tr-Ac-Net in New York
Tel: +1-212 772 6918
mailto:peterbnyc@gmail.com
The Transparency and Accountability Network
With Kris Dev in Chennai India
and others in South Asia, Africa and Latin America
http://tr-ac-net.blogspot.com