Malaria-A Largely Preventable Disease-Remains One of the Primary Killers of Children in Timor-Leste

Defeating malaria is an achievable goal. Malaria is a largely preventable disease, yet it continues to kill nearly 3,000 children everyday worldwide. While malaria once afflicted many Americans, today malaria is virtually unheard of in the United States. Over the decades, malaria was eradicated in the US and elsewhere through science and medical advances. Unfortunately, many people continue to be at risk of malaria in other parts of the world, including Timor-Leste. The US Government is committed to sharing its scientific knowledge and experience to benefit people still at risk of malaria.

Today, December 14th, 2006, is a significant day in the fight against malaria. The President and Mrs. Bush are hosting the White House Summit on Malaria in Washington D.C. to challenge America’s companies, foundations, nongovernmental and nonprofit organizations, as well as private citizens and young people to come together to control malaria.

The Malaria Summit in Washington D.C. coincides with a related event right here in Timor-Leste. Today marks the closing day of the Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses Comprehensive Strategy Review Workshop, a gathering of health care providers and professionals from the Government, international organizations, and nongovernmental organizations. Since 2001, Timor-Leste has been trying to address the problem of life-threatening childhood illnesses, malaria among them, in a comprehensive way, and the model for doing so has been extended to every health facility in the districts and sub-districts.

Malaria still poses a serious problem for Timor-Leste, with 57,535 children five years and below reported to be suffering from the disease for the period January-October 2005. Timor-Leste also continues to suffer from a high under-5 mortality rate of 83 per 1000 live births, and malaria continues to contribute to this mortality rate.

While malaria remains a serious threat, it is both preventable and treatable if addressed properly and quickly. In Timor-Leste, the US Government’s efforts, largely through its support to the Timor-Leste Assistencia Integrado de Saude (TAIS) project focus on (1) distribution of Insecticide-Treated Nets to prevent malaria and (2) treatment with Artemisinin-Based Combination Therapies, which will be systematically introduced in the country in 2007. Insecticide-Treated Nets or bednets are seen as the most reliable preventive measure for the disease. With US Government support, a total of 80,000 bednets have been distributed across the country to date. The initiative also includes education and evaluation programs and, thus far, the US Government has funded the training of over 3,500 people in malaria treatment and prevention.

The United States continues to combat malaria around the world, most notably in Africa, South America and Asia. The US Government also continues to work closely with other international partners including the Global Fund, World Bank, as well as other multilateral organizations and donors, on the one hand, and key partners in the local community such as the chefes de suco in Timor-Leste, on the other.

Defeating malaria requires the concerted effort of the whole society and calls for strong partnerships not only between the public and private sectors, but between the malaria-free world and those still at-risk. The Malaria Summit brings together organizations, corporations, and individuals in the fight against malaria, in the hope of saving lives and giving children the gift of growing up.