MIN/Sp/AU/CAMH3/6 Malaria Page 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The AU Heads of State and Government adopted the Abuja Declarations and Plans of Action in 2000 and 2001, committing themselves to intensifying the fight against HIV/AIDS, TB, Malaria and other infectious diseases (ORID). At their Abuja Special Summit of May 2006, they reaffirmed these pledges and committed themselves to scaling up action towards universal access to HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria services with renewed vigour. In April 2007, the African Union launched the Malaria Elimination Campaign during the 3rd Session of the AU Conference of Ministers of Health. They also adopted the Africa Health Strategy, as an approach to harmonized Health and Development Strategies in Africa. This Report describes the progress made in the implementation of these targets with special focus on the implementation of the 11 programme areas outlined in the implementation of the Abuja Abuja Call for Accelerated Action towards Universal Access to Services. It has been compiled from several published and unpublished reports on the malaria situation in Africa as at end of 2007, unless otherwise stated. All countries in Africa have established RBM coordinating bodies and, developed Malaria Strategic Plans (MSPs). By 2004, only 4 nations had achieved the goal of devoting 15% government expenditure to health with a regional average of 8.8 %. Several initiatives to increase funding for malaria control have emerged and include the Global Fund (GFATM), World Bank Booster Programme (WBB), the Presidents’ Malaria Initiative (PMI) and The Islamic Development Bank. To date, the GF has committed 1.7 billion US $ to malaria control in Africa and about US $ 645 million form various sources was spent on malaria control in Africa. To increase access to malaria control interventions, 74% of countries have waived taxes on anti-malarials, 64% have removed taxes or introduced waivers on ITNs while about half have waived taxes and tariffs on nets, netting materials and insecticides. In 2006-2007, over 33 million ITNs were distributed through campaigns in 22 countries. About 25% of households own at least one mosquito net of any type, while 12 % own at least one ITN. By 2007, 7 countries had achieved more than 40% household owning at least 1 ITN. On average, 8% of children under-five sleep under an ITN. However, ITN use by children under five has exceeded 40% in Rwanda, the Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Sao Tome and Principe and Guinea Bissau. Use of ITNs by pregnant women is even lower at 5%. All the 35 countries where IPTp is recommended have adopted the policy but only 20 countries are implementing country-wide. Coverage with IPT is less than 10%. However, some countries like Zambia 61%, Malawi 45% and, the Gambia 33% have achieved higher IPT coverage.