Global Fund to extend anti-malaria program in Nepal

KATHMANDU, Aug. 31 — In an effort to reduce the incidence of malaria disease to two in every 1,000 persons by 2011, the Global Fund has decided to extend its Malaria Control Program (MCP) to 31 districts in Nepal, Republica daily reported on Tuesday.

In cooperation with the Ministry of Health and Population, the fund had been carrying out MCP in 12 districts since March 2004. Later in 2008, the fund decided to add one more district, Banke, in its program. As the deadline for eliminating malaria nears, Global Fund is set to cover 18 more new districts.

"We are progressing well in reducing the burden of malaria in recent years. However, we still require a more extensive program to achieve our target," Arjun Kumar Bhattarai, the fund's program officer, told the daily. "We have, therefore, decided to extend the coverage of MCP from next year."

Currently, according to the World Health Organization, there are around 4,000 cases of malaria in Nepal. Concluding that completely wiping out malaria is not possible, Nepal has reset a new target to control the disease. To eliminate malaria, Nepal needs to reduce its incidence to less than one person in every 1, 000 in the total population.

Even after reducing malaria incidence to less than one person in every 1,000, Nepal requires to block imported cases for three consecutive years to declare its elimination. Currently, around 80 percent people are under the risk of contracting malaria. (PNA/Xinhua)

DCT/ebp

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