THE United States of America President’s Malaria Initiative (US PMI) last year disbursed USD15 million to Zimbabwe for activities meant to combat Malaria.
By Kuda Pembere
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated 241 million malaria cases and 627,000 malaria deathsworldwide in 2020; an estimated 602,000 malaria deaths (96 percent) were in Africa and 80 percent of these deaths in Africa were in children under five.
The WHO estimated that $6.8 billion was needed to fight malaria in 2020; current global funding for malaria is around $3.3 billion annually and despite increases in U.S. funding, the resource gap has widened over recent years, putting progress against malaria at risk. Zimbabwe is among the US PMI 27 Sub-Saharan partner countries.
All years funding numbers have been rounded to the nearest million. In FY 2021, USAID also provided funding for malaria activities in Burundi ($7.5 million), the Latin America and the Caribbean Region ($5million), and Africa Region ($2.5 million). In addition, the U.S. government is the largest donor to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.
The Global Fund was the other leading source of donor funding for country malaria programs over the same period,” read part of the US PMI 2021 Annual Report.
Over 1, 4 million rapid diagnostic test kits were procured and delivered for Zimbabwe last year under the US President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI).
Also, 300 000 doses of Intermittent Preventive Treatment in pregnancy (IPTp) were procured for the Southern African nation.
“Malaria is dangerous for pregnant women and their babies. Ensuring women receive IPTp at prenatal visits after the first trimester can prevent malaria. Ideally women receive at least three doses,” said the US PMI.
In terms of reducing all-cause mortality in children under five, Zimbabwe recorded a 23 percent drop in cases.
For Zimbabwe, 1 925 000 insecticide treated nets were procured with 1 330 000 delivered.
“ITNs kill mosquitoes that land on them and physically block mosquitoes at night when they are most likely to bite. PMI maintains ITN coverage through a combination of mass distribution campaigns and continuous distribution via health clinics, schools, and other channels,” stated the US PMI.
The US PMI noted that in the period under review, all its partner countries noticed a growing menacing trend of insecticide resistance.
“One of the greatest threats to malaria control efforts is the emergence of insecticide resistance in mosquitoes, which has been detected in all 27 PMI partner countries.
PMI funding supports mosquito surveillance in 252 sites and insecticide resistance monitoring in 262 sites as part of our collaborations with scientists and research institutions in the countries where we work.
“Through these collaborations, PMI supports quality entomological monitoring, including tracking insecticide resistance, to ensure the optimal vector control interventions are deployed and remain effective at preventing malaria,” said the US PMI initiative.
