FACTS AND FIGURES FROM SOME AFRICAN COUNTRIES

Burkina Faso – one fifth of all hospital admissions are for malaria and two-thirds of those admitted are children under five.

Ethiopia – up to 40 million of Ethiopia’s 62 million population are estimated to be at risk of malaria. Malaria control is becoming more difficult due to increasing epidemics and increased drug and insecticide resistance.

Ghana – malaria is the leading cause of mortality in children under five years, a significant cause of adult morbidity, and the leading cause of workdays lost due to illness.

Malawi – malaria is the main cause of illness and death in Malawian children under five years of age, and it is the cause of over 40 % of deaths in children under two.

Mauritania – various factors have contributed to the increased malaria transmission in the country such as increased rainfall in recent years, the construction of dams for irrigation, the creation of oases in the north and the low level of malaria control activities.

Mozambique – malaria is highly endemic in 9 out of 10 provinces in the country and up to 90 % of the population is at risk.

Niger – the population is 10 million and more than 850,000 cases of malaria are notified every year equally distributed in children and adults.

Nigeria – malaria is endemic throughout the country with more than 90 % of the population living in areas with constant risk of infection. Malaria is responsible for 25 % of infant mortality and 30 % of childhood mortality.

Senegal – up to 50 % of patients admitted to hospital with severe malaria die.

Tanzania – malaria is currently the top disease priority averaging about 35 % of all inpatient diagnosis in all age groups. In Tanzania, health expenditure on malaria accounts for 39 %.

Uganda – malaria transmission is endemic in 90 % of the country. Challenges include recent epidemics in highlands areas and a rising resistance to chloroquine.

Zambia – malaria accounts for 32 % of hospital admissions and 36 % of outpatient care from health centres.