An evaluation of malaria control
There have been many successes, especially within the Middle East, parts of north Africa and parts of south and south-east Asia
Over 500 million people have been freed from endemic malaria.
Fewer people are actually dying from the affects of malaria now than 50 years ago.
There is an increased awareness among people in the affected areas and they generally take all reasonable precautions.
Organisations such as the Red Cross are active in providing drugs, equipment and people trained for endemic areas.
New combination treatments containing artemisinin, which comes from a Chinese plant, are recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), but cost far more.
The World Health Organisation's vaccination programme is targeting children in Africa because children under 5 accounted for two-thirds of global Malaria deaths. The Who have recommended that further studies will be required before the vaccine is used outside of Africa.
Benefits of controlling the disease
The country will save money on health, medicine and doctors, which they could use to pay off foreign debt.
They could use their scarce resources to spend money on creating jobs or improving roads and housing etc, rather than on malaria control.
They will have a healthier workforce who will produce more goods and wealth.
More farm work could be done as people are not ill.
People in the country will have a longer and healthier life.
More touristSomeone who travels for recreation or business purposes. could be attracted to previously endemic countries. This can bring more money for the economy and more jobs for local people.
Over $2 billion has been spent on fighting the disease in Africa alone. This money could otherwise have been spent on development.
Africa鈥檚 GDP would be $100 billion greater if malaria had been wiped out thirty five years ago.