UN COUNTRY TEAM TACKLES ETHIOPIA MALARIA OUTBREAK AS DISEASE THREATENS TO EXACERBATE HIGH MALNUTRITION RATES

UN COUNTRY TEAM TACKLES ETHIOPIA MALARIA OUTBREAK AS DISEASE THREATENS

TO EXACERBATE HIGH MALNUTRITION RATES

NEW YORK, 26 November –- A recent report by the United Nations country team in Ethiopia says that aside from high rates of malnutrition, malaria will be the single biggest health problem for the country in 2003/2004.  One of the effects of the food shortages brought about by the 2002/2003 drought, which have affected some 13 million people, is that vulnerable groups have become more susceptible to disease.

Currently, high incidences of malaria infection are reported in the Amhara, Oromia and Tigray regions, as well as the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR).  Major malaria epidemics tend to occur cyclically every five to eight years in Ethiopia.  There has been a four-year build up (low transmission years) since the last major epidemic in 1998, followed by high rainfall this year, and this created conditions for intense transmission (exacerbated by a shortage of anti-malarial drugs, collapse of regular vector-control activities, malnutrition, population resettlement and water harvesting projects).  Ten-year case load data from the three largest regions indicated an epidemic emerging.  A United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) epidemiologist confirmed that true malaria epidemics have occurred in both the SNNPR and Amhara, and that supporting evidence suggests the epidemic is more widespread.

In response to the malaria outbreak, UNICEF has procured $1.2 million worth of medicine.  The first consignment of $700,000 has already been distributed to Oromia, Amhara, the SNNPR and Tigray regions in October and November.  The balance of the medicines is being airlifted in November.  The distribution of medicines has been done directly at the zonal level, based on agreed requests received from the regions.  The World Health Organization (WHO) has also supplied some drugs and laboratory supplies.  The UNICEF has also ordered 56,000 insecticide treated nets and disbursed more than 28 million birr ($3.3 million) in cash support for malaria epidemic control activities.

The UNICEF has received a total of $7.2 million from July to November 2003, in response to an appeal for support of the malaria response.  The WHO has received pledges of $348,432 for operational support efforts in several regions.

For further information, please call:  Stephanie Bunker, OCHA NY, tel:  917 367 5126, mobile:  917 892 1679; Elisabeth Byrs, OCHA Geneva, tel:  41 22 917 2653, mobile:  41(0) 79 472 4570.

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