Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2005. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
The New York Times - July 1, 2005
Malaria kills more than a million people a year, 90 percent of them in sub-Saharan Africa. Most victims are children under 5. Malaria sickens hundreds of millions a year, leaving many survivors with lifelong problems that impair their ability to work.
Africa's economic losses from malaria are about $12 billion a year. The toll could be cut in half by spending only $3 billion a year for such things as insecticide-treated bed nets, preventive drugs and early treatment. Still, that amount is well beyond the means of the most affected poor African nations.
If Congress delivers on Mr. Bush's promises - and it should - the new program will provide tens of millions of dollars to three African countries in the first year, eventually expanding to $1.2 billion for 15 countries where 175 million people are at risk. At next week's international summit meeting in Scotland, Mr. Bush should work out ways to coordinate American efforts with those of other rich nations to maximize their overall effectiveness.
Malaria is not the only health crisis in Africa needing international attention. The economic, social and human devastation wrought by H.I.V. and AIDS is enormous. More than 300 million Africans lack access to clean water. More than 400 million lack adequate sanitation. Some 200 million suffer from intestinal worms that could be treated for just 25 cents per person. All of these issues need to be addressed in Scotland next week. Mr. Bush's malaria announcement represents an admirable start.
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