President Bush Announces Madagascar as Newest Focus Country for President’s Malaria Initiative

December 15, 2006 -At the White House Summit on Malaria yesterday, President Bush announced Madagascar as a new focus country for the President's Malaria Initiative (PMI)-an historic $1.2 billion, five-year initiative to control malaria in 15 of the highest-burden countries in Africa.

Malaria is a major health problem in Madagascar, and is the leading cause of death among children under the age of five. Madagascar was chosen by an inter-agency group based on the burden of malaria, sound malaria control practices and interest on the part of the host country. Assessment missions to identify possible program elements are already underway. PMI will significantly increase resources to the focus countries, providing the most advanced and effective prevention and treatment methods available. Malaria is the leading cause of death and illness among children in many countries in Africa.
	Malagasy children under a mosquito net.
	Photo Credit: Santénet

The PMI is an interagency initiative led by United States Agency for International Development (USAID), with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as key partners. The goal of the PMI is to assist national malaria control programs to cut malaria-related deaths by 50 percent in the 15 focus countries in Africa by supporting a comprehensive malaria control effort led by national malaria control programs.

This goal will be achieved by reaching 85 percent of the most vulnerable groups -children under five years of age and pregnant women - with proven and effective prevention and treatment measures. This includes residual indoor spraying of households with insecticides; the distribution of long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets to families; intermittent, presumptive treatment of pregnant women with antimalarials; and the roll-out of new, lifesaving, artemesinin-combination therapy to treat patients with malaria.

By the end of November 2006, PMI was supporting activities to benefit approximately 6 million Africans in the initial three countries. A series of highly effective programs are scheduled for launch over the next several months that will benefit millions more.

Madagascar joins Benin, Ghana, Mali, Zambia, Kenya, Liberia and Ethiopia as new focus countries. Tanzania, Uganda, Angola, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda and Senegal are current PMI focus countries.

"Malaria is preventable and treatable, yet it is a major killer throughout Africa," said Rear Admiral R. Timothy Ziemer (U.S. Navy, retired), U.S. Malaria Coordinator. "The President and Mrs. Bush are committed to saving millions of lives in Africa and challenge the private sector to join the U.S. government in combating malaria."

In Antananarivo Ambassador James D. McGee said, "This is a tremendous opportunity to scale up proven interventions to reduce the burden of malaria in Madagascar. Preventing this deadly disease will improve life, reduce costs related to illness, boost productivity and most importantly, save countless lives."