Harare, 24 May 2005 -- A workshop on the multi-centre study on the consequences of malaria in low transmission areas in the African Region got under way Tuesday in Harare, Zimbabwe.
The multi-centre study is a WHO-supported enquiry, started in 2004, to determine the impact of malaria in pregnancy in five African countries with low malaria transmission - Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Senegal.
Opening the workshop, the Director of the Division of AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria at the WHO Regional Office for Africa (WHO/AFRO), Dr Antoine Kabore, underlined the importance of the forum whose outcome is expected to provide useful information to guide countries on appropriate interventions for malaria control in low transmission areas in the African Region. Dr Kabore was represented by the Director of the Division of Communicable Disease Prevention and control at WHO/AFRO, Dr James Mwanzia.
According to Dr Kabore, "the burden of Malaria among pregnant women living in endemic areas is enormous, causing 10 000 deaths per year due to malaria-related anaemia". Pregnant women are the second most vulnerable group to malaria after children under five years of age, he said.
Among WHO-recommended control interventions employed to reduce morbidity and mortality among high-risk groups are the use of Insecticide Treated nets, Intermittent presumptive Treatment nets, Intermittent Presumptive treatment and effective diagnosis and treatment using effective drugs. These interventions have been shown to be effective in reducing low birth urgent by as much as 25% in high transmission areas, although their national coverage remains low in many countries.
The Harare workshop ends on Friday.

For further information, contact: 
Mr Samuel T. Ajibola, 
Tel: + 47 241 39378, 
Email : ajibolas [at] afro.who.int (ajibolas[at]afro[dot]who[dot]int)