Proving that malaria can be stopped

Committed leadership, a strong, united partnership, and an innovative approach to malaria control—all of these factors have contributed to Zambia’s dramatic success in fighting malaria. The country is rapidly scaling up insecticide-treated net distribution, indoor insecticide spraying, and access to lifesaving prevention and treatment, drastically improving Zambian’s health and well-being. Studies in 2007 and 2008 show that these efforts have contributed to a nearly 30 percent decrease in mortality of children under age five years and the number of children in this age group infected with malaria parasites has been cut in half.

In just a few years, Zambia has set the bar in malaria control, making rapid progress toward its goal of reducing national malaria incidence by 75 percent by 2010:

• Since 2006, malaria parasite prevalence in children has been reduced by 50 percent.
• Two-thirds of Zambian households are now covered with at least one treated net or a recent indoor spraying.
• More than 4.5 million insecticide-treated nets were delivered to households, primarily in Zambia’s rural provinces.
• Zambia’s household spraying program was expanded and improved, reaching half of Zambia’s 72 districts and protecting nearly 6 million people in 2008.
• More pregnant women than ever before are protected from malaria: more than 80 percent of pregnant women received at least one dose of preventive medicine, and more than 60 percent received two or more doses.
• Any pregnant woman seeking prenatal care at a public clinic can now receive an insecticide-treated net for herself and for any child under five living with her.

In 2009, WHO announced that malaria deaths reported from health facilities in Zambia had declined by 66%. This result, along with other supporting data, indicates that Zambia is one of only a handful of African countries that have already reached the 2010 Roll Back Malaria target of a more than 50% reduction in malaria mortality compared to 2000. Zambia has become a global leader in malaria control and is making excellent progress towards its vision of a malaria-free Zambia.

For more information on progress in Zambia, please read the fact sheet available on the National Malaria Control Centre website.

Photo: David Jacobs.