afrol News, 17 October - Statistics published by the World Health Organisation and Unicef disclosed that impregnated bednets are making significant progress in the fight against malaria in sub-Saharan African countries.

Mosquito nets have been regarded as the most effective prevention against malaria, which was why the distribution of nets have increased in many sub-Saharan countries.

However, the new report disturbingly revealed that fewer children have had access to the treatment of a disease that annually kills 800,000 African children under five years.

Health experts said the distribution of insecticide-treated bednets is so far the most simplest and cost-effective means of preventing the huge number of deaths caused by the killer disease.

Studies proved that malaria deaths have dropped by half in countries where treated nets are used.

Of the 20 countries being monitored since 2000, 16 have tripled the distribution of nets. Also the annual production of bed nets has more than doubled.

The study showed that half of Gambian children now have treated bed nets where as Ethiopia has distributed 18m in the last two years alone.

Despite the increased preventive measures, ironically the death toll among African children remains the same.

The majority of African children affected by malaria do not have access to life-saving drugs. This is because most African countries heeded to the WHO advice and abandoned ineffective treatments. These countries are yet to access the new and expensive malaria treatment drugs.

The world health body officials said the increased production of the new malaria treatments is forcing the prices to go down.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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