Government has launched a five-year malaria treatment and prevention plan at a cost of USD 447 million in an effort to lessen the burden of the disease, one of the leading causes of illness and death in the country, the Ministry of Health said.

The plan, which the government distributed to its partners this week, is intended to provide early diagnosis and treatment services and implement mosquito control measures, including the provision of insecticide treated nets and indoor residual spraying. The funds will come from the government budget, the donor community and other partners in the health sector.

An estimated 68 percent of the country's 73 million people who live in malaria-prone areas will have access to treatment by 2010 when the plan is expected to be fully implemented. It will also involve construction of health facilities, training and the deployment of up to 37,000 health extension workers, according to Zerihun Tadesse, acting head of disease prevention and control at the ministry.

"The disease has been consistently reported as one of the top three leading causes of morbidity and mortality in Ethiopia over the years. In 2004 and 2005 it was the first cause of morbidity and mortality, accounting for 16.6 percent of out-patient consultations, 15 percent of admissions and 29 percent of deaths," he said.

According to him, it has also been documented in the nationwide child survival study that malaria affects school attendance by 20 percent and contributes to 47 percent of the child death in Ethiopia.

A study published in the East African Medical Journal in April 2005 estimated that some six million malaria cases occurred in Ethiopia during the last epidemic between April and December 2003, with up to 114,000 fatalities.