Malaria – the Gambia success story

[13 February 2009 - 10h10]

When it comes to fighting malaria, Gambia is leading the way.

Engaged in a relentless battle against this disease since the start of this century, the country is now beginning to reap the rewards of its efforts with malaria quite plainly in freefall in the Gambia.

Last year, for example, the “Roll Back Malaria Partnership” was able to paint a very positive picture of the actions undertaken. This was because local health authorities realised that only through a combination of several different weapons could the disease be brought to an end. They therefore embarked on mass distribution of insecticide-impregnated mosquito nets and the introduction of new combined treatments to replace chloroquine which has become less and less effective. Not forgetting the training of qualified healthcare workers now able to cover the whole of the country.

Between 2000 and 2008, the number of deaths fell by as much as 90% in many regions. This is really encouraging, states Dr David Conway of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. To the point that we can envisage removing Gambia from the list of countries where malaria is endemic.

This achievement gives room for hope that this devastating disease can actually be brought under control. Worldwide more than a million people still die from malaria every year and all too often it is Africa that pays the heaviest price, with 800,000 children under the age of 5 killed by the disease in 2006.

Source : The Lancet, 2008

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