Luanda– The US Government will secure free supply of 80 percent of medicines against malaria in Angola, Angop learned Tuesday in Luanda.

The information was released by the coordinator of the National Programme Against Malaria, Filomeno Fortes.

Speaking on the fringes of the National Workshop on control of Malaria in the Community, the official said the US Government is the main partners in the effort, followed by the Global Fund.

 
Filomena Fortes said the country is still in the stage of elimination of the disease, as eradication has been set for 2014.

 
She mentioned Luanda, Huambo, Bie and Huila as the most affected provinces.

 
The source also mentioned pregnant women, Hiv positive persons, tuberculosis and sleeping sickness sufferers as the main target groups.

The source explained that the Health Ministry designed a new strategic plan in 2007, which led to a new treatment policy.

 
Under the said plan, the authorities cancelled the use of clorochine, increased the supply of mosquito nets and introduced a preventive measure against malaria for expectant mothers, with the use of fansidar.

 
“We are also optimistic that, judging from the results obtained over the last two years, until 2012, it will be possible for malaria not to be the main cause of death in the country”, she said.

 
On the other hand, Filomeno Fortes deplored the fact that some people are reluctant to take 24 tablets in three days, fearing side-effects.

 
The three-day workshop aims at analysing the role of the civil society and partners in the implementation of the National Strategic Plan of pushing malaria back.

 
Malaria kills about three million people a year and affects more than 500 million persons every year.

 
It is one of the main causes of death of children in tropical countries, killing one million with less than five years of age.

 
According to the World Health Organisation, malaria kills one African child every 30 seconds and many who survive the disease remain with serious brain lesions and difficulty in learning.