Abu Dhabi aids Senegal drive to wipe out malaria

ABU DHABI // The Lives and Livelihoods Fund, the largest multilateral development initiative in the Middle East, has agreed on its first project – supporting the Senegalese government to the tune of US$32 million (Dh117.5m) in its drive to eradicate malaria.

The fund, which was launched by the Islamic Development Bank last year, combines $ 2 billion in bank financing with $ 500m in additional grants from various donors, including the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development ( ADFD), which contributed $50m, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

The project will boost the African nation’s capacity to diagnose and treat malaria, supporting its mission to eradicate the disease by the end of next year.

The programme will give 2.5 million people free, long-lasting insecticide- treated nets and 1.6 million rapid diagnosis tests and more than 70,000 doses of antimalarial drugs.

The fund will provide trained professionals to improve malaria surveillance and diagnosis, with awareness campaigns for four million people to teach them how to avoid the mosquito-borne infectious disease.

In addition, the programme will train 400 community workers and health care providers in malaria control and case management.

Malaria prevalence in Senegal decreased from 5.9 per cent in 2008 to 2.8 in 2013 but remains a major cause of death in the country.

“This initiative is a significant step forward for the Lives and Livelihoods Fund and for Senegal,” said Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi, director- general of ADFD. “The project will save lives, improve living standards and bring Senegal closer to eradicating malaria.

“Projects like this reflect ADFD’s mission to forge partnerships and provide financial resources to support governments in achieving their goals.

“We strongly believe in the power of working with partners to ensure aid is used as effectively as possible to drive socio-economic well-being for developing nations.”

Maher Al Hadrawi, executive director of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre and chair of the fund, said the first project would provide a substantial investment to Senegal’s efforts.

“Eradicating malaria will enable millions of people to lead healthy and productive lives. This agreement represents a major milestone for the fund in its mission to lift the poorest people in the Muslim world out of poverty,” he said.

The Lives and Livelihoods Fund has already signed off $363m in its first year targeting health, agriculture and infrastructure in the Muslim world.