WASHINGTON, June 8 (UPI) -- First lady Laura Bush unveiled the latest countries to receive aid under the President's Malaria Initiative Thursday.
Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda and Senegal have been added to the list of countries chosen for the $1.2 billion, five-year initiative to control malaria in Africa that President Bush announced in June 2005.
The goal of the initiative is to reduce malaria deaths by half in each targeted African country through high-impact interventions among 85 percent of the most vulnerable populations.
The effort's strategies include the introduction of long-lasting mosquito bed nets, spraying of homes with insecticides and the mass distribution of a new anti-malarial treatment called artemisinin-based combination therapy.
Tanzania, Uganda and Angola have already been designated focus countries for the initiative.
The four newly added countries were chosen by an inter-agency group based on the burden of malaria, sound malaria control practices, interest on the part of the host country and other factors. Assessment missions to identify possible program elements are already under way, according to USAID.
"Today, malaria is the number one killer of children in Africa, and more than a million people around the world die of its effects each year," Mrs. Bush said at the National Press Club. "Malaria is largely preventable and the President's Malaria Initiative -- along with the efforts of other governments and private partners -- is working to eradicate malaria as a devastating killer of women and children."
During the event, hosted by the U.S. Agency for International Development, Mrs. Bush also introduced R. Timothy Ziemer as the U.S. malaria coordinator. In this newly developed position, he will have direct authority over both the President's Malaria Initiative and all USAID malaria programs and policy.
