Other elements of malaria prevention were also initiated or expanded through this grant, including the free distribution of over 300,000 insecticide-treated bed nets (thus providing virtually national coverage) and indoor residual spraying in selected areas. The government also instituted a national media campaign to inform the population of the new malaria treatments, including a number of both radio and television programs. Together, these actions have had a startling impact on the epidemic: mortality rates among those over five years of age have dropped from 61.9 percent in 2002 to 17 percent in 2005.
The hallmark of Zanzibar's program is the collaboration between the government and a number of bilateral and multilateral agencies as well as other partners. Besides receiving grants from the Global Fund, Zanzibar was the first country to receive assistance from the President's Malaria Initiative (U.S.), and the World Health Organization and the Italian Cooperation Agency are also partners. In addition, the success of the program has led to increased participation/cooperation by local nongovernmental and faith-based organizations, enabling the government to reach even further into local communities. It is this collaboration which is the hallmark and foundation of their success.
One of the unexpected outcomes of the ACT rollout is that with better diagnosis and more effective treatment, incidence rates have dropped even more quickly than anticipated, leaving the government with an excess of ACTs which run the risk of passing their expiration dates before they can be used. In an odd twist, Zanzibar will now be donating their excess stock to other East African countries such as Rwanda who are suffering from a shortage of malaria drugs.
|
You are here: 
