Contact: Carol Hooks: +1 202 458 9346 chooks@worldbank.org Obadiah Tohomdet otohomdet@worldbank.org April 24, 2008, Washington, DC – The World Bank will provide an additional $300 million in International Development Association (IDA) funding to expand Nigeria’s efforts to control malaria. Managing Director Ngozi N. Okonjo-Iweala made the announcement today at the One World Against Malaria Summit in Washington, DC. This new financing is in response to a request from the Government of Nigeria as it seeks to accelerate progress toward the ambitious target set last year by UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon. The aggressive target, established last year on World Malaria Day, calls for everyone who needs malaria protection to have it by the end of 2010. $100 million of the $300 million request is on a fast track for consideration by the Bank’s Board of Executive Directors in June 2009. The new support will help close remaining gaps for net distribution, malaria treatment, diagnostics, awareness-raising, behavior change communication, and engagement of grassroots organizations in the fight. This year’s World Malaria Day marks a critical milestone. Countries and the global malaria community have less than two years left before the 2010 target for delivering effective and affordable protection and treatment to all people at risk of malaria. Noted Okonjo-Iweala, “The battle has intensified, building on the tremendous progress made in the last three years. We need to ensure that the next the next three years will witness even more successes. Mobilizing all stakeholders, including faith-based organizations, will be critical to winning this fight.” The intensified fight against malaria takes place in the midst of a global economic crisis expected to have severe impacts on Africa. With Africa’s economic growth slowing, reducing the growth penalty imposed by malaria is more important than ever. New estimates for 2009 suggest that lower economic growth rates will trap 46 million more people in extreme poverty (GDP per capita of less than $1.25 a day) than was expected prior to the crisis. Poverty and health are inextricably linked. Solving Africa’s malaria problem can help keep millions of Africans from falling even further into poverty. In these difficult times, predictable and adequate levels of funding will be critical. Unless countries massively scale up their malaria control programs, they will not be able to sharply reduce the numbers of malaria-related deaths and illness that afflict their communities each year. World Bank Africa Region Vice President Obiageli Ezekwesili pointed out at an earlier meeting that “We have before us an extraordinary window of opportunity to improve the future prospects for millions of people in Africa. This opportunity may not come again. We have an obligation to turn the current momentum into concrete results, to help Africa defeat malaria.” The Bank is working closely with countries, partners, and organizations on the ground to ensure that efforts and resources are sufficient and coordinated, and that accountability mechanisms are in place and functioning. Okonjo-Iweala ended her statement at today’s summit by pointing out that “The stakes are high, and every minute counts. From two child deaths from malaria every minute to the end of deaths from malaria is a long journey, a journey that must be sustained and closely monitored in order to reach the ultimate goal of eliminating malaria as an obstacle to human development and national prosperity. The World Bank will remain with Africa—and with all of you—on that journey.” Editors’ Notes Combined with Nigeria’s initial “Malaria Plus” package of $180 million (approved in 2006), World Bank support to Nigeria is expected to approach $500 million, which would make it the largest single-country malaria control investment in the Bank’s history. These funds will help alleviate the crushing burden malaria places on the country’s families and health system. Nigeria has long worked with civil society and the private sector on malaria control. A more intense effort to allow for coordinated participation of the already-involved faith-based community was launched at today’s summit. The Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’adu Abubakar, and the Archbishop of Abuja, John Onaiyekan, travelled to Washington to participate in the launch. They were joined by Minister of Health Babatunde Osotimehin and National Malaria Control Program Coordinator T.O. Sofola. The event was organized by the office of the UN Special Envoy for Malaria and the Center for Interfaith Action on Global Poverty. The Booster Program for Malaria Control in Africa was launched in 2005 as a 10-year effort to reaffirm the Bank’s commitment to malaria control and help Africa meet its development goals. During Phase I of the Booster Program, the Bank committed $468.7 million in IDA support and trust funds. In September 2008, World Bank President Robert B. Zoellick announced a new commitment of up to $1.1 billion, depending on country demand, for Phase II of the Booster Program. Nigeria will be the first country to benefit from this significant program expansion. The World Bank is also providing $250 million to India for a five-year malaria control and Kala-azar elimination project. Encouraging Results The Booster Program has contributed to some of the biggest successes at the country level. Because of strong country leadership and effective collaboration among partners such as the Global Fund, U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative, WHO, UNICEF, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, bilateral agencies, faith-based and nongovernmental organizations, research institutions, and the private sector. · In Zambia, 62 percent of households now have at least one insecticide-treated net (ITN – up from less than 5% in 2004), 66% of pregnant women receive preventive treatment (tripling coverage since 2004), and 87% of eligible households in targeted districts have received IRS. · In Ethiopia, 68% of households in malarious areas are protected by at least one ITN or IRS (up from less than 5% in 2003), and recent data suggest a sharp decline in malaria cases. · In Benin, the Booster Program supported the purchase and distribution of 1.4 million LLINs during a national child health campaign in October 2007, through which children also received vitamin A and de-worming medicine. This campaign, which distributed 1.7 million nets in total, was Benin’s largest ever net distribution. · Other massive bed net distribution campaigns have taken place in DR Congo, Eritrea, Nigeria, and Sudan. Nets are also being distributed as part of routine health services in Nigeria, Senegal and other countries. Over 77,000 houses received indoor residual spraying (IRS) in Eritrea. · In total, Booster Phase I funding is expected to support the purchase and distribution of more than 21 million LLINs and over 42 million doses of ACT. * * * For more information, visit www.worldbank.org/afr/malaria |
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