World Malaria Day 2009

Impact on the Disease

The Global Fund model of country ownership, performance-based funding, inclusive partnerships and high level coverage of services is having a real impact on disease.

• Zambia’s clinics are no longer full of malaria patients – so clinic staff have time to follow up in their community. In 2008 9.6 million malaria episodes were treated in Zambia (that is the number of prepackaged malaria treatment kits distributed or sold).
• Rwanda has seen child malaria deaths decline by two-thirds. In 2008 the Global Fund financed the distribution of 2.4 million insecticide-treated bed nets and enabled national artemisinin-combined therapy coverage.
• Eritrea has cut malaria deaths by 71 percent thanks to the provision of nets and drugs, and strengthening community-based activities.
• Due to concerted action and bed net provision, the number of malaria deaths among young children in Kenya has fallen so dramatically in recent years that Kenya’s malaria experts plan to expand the program and get everyone to sleep under a bed net. 3.7 million nets were distributed in 2008.
• There have been substantial declines in child mortality in Ethiopia. The Global Fund paid for the distribution of 10.8 million long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets – part of a national drive to rid the country of the epidemic.