New York, US - The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and its partners are scaling up their response measures to prevent a malaria outbreak in Somalia, where two million people, already suffering from drought, famine and conflict, are at higher risk of contracting the disease during the current rainy season, a statement said on Monday. The statement, made available to PANA in New York, quoted UNICEF's Somalia representative, Sikander Khan, as saying that, 'the health of many Somalis is already extremely compromised due to the drought and famine, especially children suffering from malnutrition and with the rains come an increased risk of malaria'.

Khan stated: 'We must act as swiftly as possible to prevent deaths due to this deadly disease. We are working with our partners on prevention as well as providing treatment
services as necessary'.

The statement also said: 'To protect the population, UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners have engaged in a large-scale campaign which consists of distributing protection kits according to each region’s needs and educating people on the ways to prevent and treat the disease'.

'In drought-affected regions such as Hiran, Lower Shabelle, Middle Shabelle, Lower Juba and Middle Juba in south-central Somalia, 280,000 long-lasting insecticide treated nets will be distributed in the next weeks to over 140,000 households in addition to the 79,000 nets which have already been distributed since July.

'In Mogadishu, where nets are not practical, 45,000 households will receive indoor spraying which will protect them for three to four months, and will be re-sprayed in March and April next year,' it stated.

It also noted that, 'health facilities throughout high-risk areas will be equipped with 560,000 doses of anti-malaria drugs as well as with the ability to provide one million rapid diagnostic tests and the capacity to treat cases'.

The UNICEF disclosed that the campaign is financially supported by the Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFTAM) and the United Kingdom Department for International Development.

Pana 18/10/2011