Interventions against malaria could help to alleviate poverty in countries where the disease is rife and could substantially boost economic growth.
According to an analysis carried out by researchers at Harvard University and the London School of Tropical Hygiene, malaria knocks as much as 1.3% off the gross national product in regions such as the Indian subcontinent, Sri Lanka, and sub-Saharan Africa.
This is far higher than previous estimates, which failed to take account of the long term effects of malaria on trade, tourism, foreign investment, and commerce. Repeated bouts of malaria add to costs through malnutrition and death among children and time off work among adults.
“Since Sub-Saharan Africa's GDP [gross domestic product] is around $300bn (£188bn), and since malaria affects nearly the entire region, the short-term benefit of malaria control can reasonably be estimated at between $3bn and $12bn per year,” stated the World Health Organization's commissioned report.
The report calls on the international community, private foundations, and international agencies to commit $1bn a year to fund malaria interventions and research. A “malaria vaccine purchase” fund should also be set up to spur pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies into developing a vaccine. At the moment little interest exists in producing a vaccine because there is no guarantee that the countries needing the vaccine would be able to buy it.
But a vaccine fund, which has been supported by President Clinton and the World Bank, would ensure that money would be available to pay for it. Meanwhile, new therapeutic, preventive, and diagnostic tools need to be developed, particularly drugs, insecticides, and dipstick tests.
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AFP
The world”s largest mosquito net unveiled in Abuja, Nigeria for an international conference this month on malaria