Angola To Adopt New Malaria Plan, USAID Donates $1M To Fight Malaria in the Country
Angola will adopt a new strategic plan focusing on diagnosis and treatment with the goal of reducing malaria-related deaths in the country, Carlos Masseca, deputy health minister, said on Thursday, the Angola Press reports. Masseca spoke at an event in the capital city of Luanda, Angola, marking a $1 million donation from ExxonMobil to USAID the third in a series of related donations which will be used to fight malaria in Angola.
Masseca said the new plan, which is supported by national and international partners, provides medicines, treatment targeting pregnant women and strategies aimed at getting rid of malaria vectors. While malaria has been sharply reduced in the country already, Masseca said reducing malaria is "among the main priorities of the government to improve the quality of life and health of citizens." The country aims to cut the number of malaria deaths by 50% by 2010, he said (Angola Press, 5/7).
Dan Mozena, U.S. ambassador to Angola, said the ExxonMobil grant will help to expand the U.S. government's role in Angola's fight to prevent malaria deaths and support the President's Malaria Initiative. Mozena called on the private sector to assist with these efforts (Angola Press, 5/7 [2]).
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