Malaria :: UNICEF donates anti-malaria drugs to the Government of Liberia

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and France have donated nearly $400,000 worth of anti-malaria drugs to Liberia in a move immediately welcomed by the Government.

?This is truly a remarkable gesture for the people of Liberia, especially the children and pregnant women who suffer the most,? said Minister of Health Dr. Walter Gwenigale.

He underscored the seriousness of malaria in Liberia today. ?We are dealing with a situation where when 50 patients enter a clinic, 25 of them are malaria-infected.?

The shipment, representing more than 678,800 treatments worth $389,000, will be joined by a second donation to Burundi later this year.

The drugs are being paid for by the UN World Health Organization (WHO) and UNITAID, an international drug purchase facility. UNICEF has contributed $500,000 to support in distribution and other related activities.

Malaria is one of the most devastating diseases in Africa today. The disease kills over a million people a year or about 3,000 people per day, according to UNICEF, while at least 300 million suffer from acute malaria each year. Children under five, pregnant women and their unborn children, and the elderly are the most vulnerable.


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