Assembly/AU/4(XI) Page 12 for TB control interventions. Further, Member States to timely expend approved GFATM grants and submit proposals for more funding to meet funding gaps for scale up of activities towards universal access. Despite the progress in tuberculosis control, the African countries in EMRO have failed in achieving the global targets for tuberculosis control. While DOTS has expanded, covering 94% of the regional population and treatment success is high (82%), the case detection rate is only 44%. To improve case detection, the regional plan to Stop TB was developed as part of the global plan 2006–2015. The budgetary need for the period of 2006 to 2015 indicated in the Plan is US$ 3.1 billion in the Region. Support to countries was enhanced and partnership development promoted. SUMMARY STATUS ON IMPLEMENTATION OF MALARIA STRATEGIES The Africa Malaria Elimination Campaign takes into account the variation in the burden and epidemiology of malaria in the different regions of the continent. The general direction to move from malaria control to elimination through incremental programming: a) High Transmission Areas (referred to as Group 1) b) Low Transmission Areas (referred to as Group 2) c) Transmission has been interrupted (referred to as Group 3) The strategic plan for malaria control and elimination for 2006–2010 was finalized and endorsed by Member States and strategic plans were updated in all malaria endemic countries. Requirements for certification of malaria-free status in the United Arab Emirates were finalized and the number of countries that are malaria-free or implementing successful malaria elimination strategies increased. 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