Community-based solutions for effective malaria control: lessons from Mozambique.

Despite being a preventable and treatable disease malaria continues to rank as a leading cause of mortality in much of the developing world causing 1.2 million deaths annually. Ninety percent of these deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa. Pregnant women and young children bear the overwhelming burden of malaria. One in five child deaths in Africa is attributed to malaria; those who survive may suffer recurrent fever malnutrition cognitive delays and in cases of severe malaria neurological damage. Pregnant women and infants are also highly vulnerable to malaria-induced anemia premature delivery and low birth weight. Beyond its high contribution to mortality and morbidity malaria impacts social and economic structures costing African nations an estimated $10–$12 billion in lost gross domestic product each year. Mozambique is among the ten nations most affected by malaria. Stable transmission rates make malaria Mozambique’s primary cause of morbidity and mortality resulting in an estimated 4400–67000 malaria-specific deaths each year across all age groups. Because the entire country is malaria endemic approximately 682000 pregnant woman and 2.8 million children under age five are at risk. Well known as a disease that both causes and is caused by poverty malaria significantly burdens Mozambican families communities the health system and national resources. Controlling malaria is one of the nation’s greatest challenges. Country specific data indicate that malaria contributes to 15% of the disease burden in the general population with higher figures for children under 2 years accounting for 40% of outpatient consultations 60% of pediatric inpatients and a third of hospital deaths. (excerpt)