Dar es Salaam — Today we commemorate Africa Malaria Day around the globe. Malaria transmitting mosquitoes have thrived in the sub-Saharan African climate and left countless families, villages and communities devastated. And although it is often accepted as a fact of life – a prevalent threat that must be endured – we can beat it now. Defeating malaria is both an urgent calling and an achievable goal.
Today we have new hope in our fight against a disease that has killed many, especially women and children, throughout Tanzania and our neighbors on this continent. The President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) – a $1.2 billion U.S. commitment to cut in half the number of deaths from malaria here and in 14 additional African countries hit hardest by the disease -- is making great strides.
PMI has already achieved substantial progress in the fight against malaria. Aid from the American people has already reached about 6 million Africans in the first three focus countries, which include Tanzania. This year, up to 30 million people will benefit from lifesaving treatment and prevention measures as PMI expands to from three to seven countries.
The U.S. initiative ensures that new, effective drugs reach rural clinics and replace failing treatments; provides pregnant women at least two doses of medicine that protects them and their unborn babies; distributes long-lasting, insecticide-treated bed nets that prevent mosquitoes from biting their intended victims; and sprays small amounts of insecticides on the inside walls of homes to kill mosquitoes that transmit the disease.
This is great news for Tanzania. We can beat malaria just as other Western countries did back in the 1950s when the disease was nearly eradicated – even in warm, tropical climates like we have here. Remember that the disease is curable and preventable. As Zanzibar has already demonstrated by reducing malaria on Pemba by 87% in 2006 compared to 2005, Tanzanians no longer have to put up with malaria.
The key in this battle is our resolve, individual responsibility and leadership. First, every Tanzanian must obtain, hang and sleep under an insecticide-treated bed net every single night of the year. If the mosquitoes cannot get to you, they can not bite you and give you malaria.
Second, if you suspect that you have malaria, go immediately to the closest health facility and get tested and treated with Artemisinin Combined Therapy (ACT). This is the best medicine available to treat malaria. Zanzibar has been using this drug for three years and the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare on the mainland is launching an ACT medicine called ‘Alu’ today. Alu should be available in all Ministry of Health and Social Welfare facilities. If you do test positively for malaria and are treated with Alu, you will recover faster, and your malaria-tainted blood will not infect more mosquitoes with the malaria parasite.
Third, if you are pregnant, in addition to sleeping under an insecticide treated bed net every night, get two does of Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine (SP) as part of your antenatal care. This will kill any malaria parasites that may be living in your body that might attack you and your unborn child.
Fourth, work with your family and neighbors to reduce mosquitoes by keeping your neighborhood clean and if available, participate in Indoor Residual Spraying or larviciding campaigns.
The Government of Tanzania is committed to this critical health issue and we are working side-by-side with Tanzania and the National Malaria Control Program, the World Health Organization, Global Fund, nongovernmental organizations, faith-based and other local service groups. I heartily congratulate the Ministries of Health and Social Welfare on the mainland and Zanzibar on their excellent malaria control programs. Many donors, including the U.S. Government through the President’s Malaria Initiative (in 2007, PMI is contributing $31 million for malaria prevention, control and treatment), support these activities. These anti-malaria activities will only succeed with the active support of all Tanzanians.
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We now have the tools, the resources and combined with education, training and resolve, we can beat this enemy. But to be successful and stop the spread of this disease, individuals must make protecting their family and village a personal priority. Nothing is more precious and fragile than health. From Arusha to Zanzibar, we must band together to help our neighbors. Let’s not waste a moment to win the fight against malaria. Kataa Malaria.
Michael L. Retzer is the U.S. Ambassador to Tanzania
