Ethiopia: UN country team tackles malaria outbreak

New York: 26 November 2003 - A recent report by the UN's Country Team in Ethiopia says that, aside from high rates of malnutrition, malaria will be the single-biggest health problem for Ethiopia 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 infections are reported in the Amhara, Oromia, SNNPR and Tigray regions. Major malaria epidemics tend to occur cyclically every 5 to 8 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 re-settlement and water harvesting projects). Ten-year case load data from three largest regions indicated epidemic emerging. A UNICEF epidemiologist confirmed that true malaria epidemics have been occurred in both 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 USD 700,000 has already been distributed to Oromia, Amhara, 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 to zonal levels based on agreed requests received from the Regions. The UN World Health Organization (WHO) has also supplied some drugs and laboratory supplies. UNICEF has also ordered 56,000 Insecticide Treated Nets and ore than 28 million birr (USD 3.3 million) in cash support for malaria epidemic control activities has already been disbursed by UNICEF.

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

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