Accounts for nearly 4 million clinically diagnosed cases per year and places a severe burden on the country, but especially on the poorest, and those also trying to cope with the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

The Zambia Malaria Booster Project, a $20 million IDA Credit, approved by the Board on November 15, 2005, aims to increase access to, and the use of, interventions for malaria prevention and treatment. It supports the 2006-2011 Roll Back Malaria Strategic Plan, which was jointly developed and launched by government, multi-lateral, bi-lateral, NGO, and faith-based organization partners. This Plan was key to the Bank’s rapid response to the Government of Zambia’s request, preparing the project within 5 months. The Program has been designed to complement the efforts of other partners in the county including the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and USAID.

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Zambia is distributing more than 1.5 million long lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) and 1 million retreatment kits in 2007. Through the support of the Booster Program and other partners, Zambia aims to have 80 percent of its population covered by LLINs by 2008. Forty four percent of households in Zambia now own at least one insecticide-treated net-up from less than 5 percent just three years ago. Although effective use of these nets (presently at about 22 percent) still lags behind ownership, it is expected to increase as a result of community mobilization activities under the Community Malaria Component of the Booster Program project. In addition, the project is expected to strengthen case management, human resources for health and procurement capacity within the Ministry of Health. With assistance from partner donors, Zambia has also scaled up the indoor residual spraying program, resulting in increased coverage of eligible households from 40 percent to 87 percent in 15 districts. The government has taken full advantage of the flexibility of IDA in using Booster Program resources to fill unexpected gaps on its path to scale-up. As a result, the Booster Program project is on track to fully disburse its monies two years in advance, forcing the question of "what next?"