Uganda has been selected as one of the first three countries to benefit from US President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) that will fund malaria prevention and treatment efforts.

A statement from the United States Center for Disease Control says that PMI which is a program under the US Global Health Initiative will help improve efforts against malaria in countries where it is endemic.

Mosquito which spreads Malaria disease

Malaria which is caused by anopheles mosquitoes is the leading cause of death in Uganda, and is the main cause of patient visits to health centers.

According to Uganda’s Ministry of Health (MOH), malaria accounts for 25-40% of outpatient visits to health facilities and is responsible for nearly half of inpatient pediatric deaths.

The PMI was launched in June 2005 as a 5-year, $1.2 billion initiative to rapidly scale up malaria prevention and treatment interventions and reduce malaria-related mortality by 50% in 15 high-burden countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

The statement says that through the GHI, the United States will invest $63 billion over six years to help partner countries improve health outcomes, with a particular focus on improving the health of women, newborns and children.

The funding will invest in country-led plans and health systems; increasing impact and efficiency through strategic coordination and programmatic integration; strengthening and leveraging key partnerships, multilateral organizations, and private contributions; implementing a woman- and girl-centered approach; improving monitoring and evaluation; and promoting research and innovation.

The announcement of the new funding follows the passing of the 2008 Lantos-Hyde Act, which enabled the funding for PMI to be extended through FY2014.

In May 2009, US President Barack Obama announced the Global Health Initiative (GHI), a six-year, comprehensive effort to reduce the burden of disease and promote healthy communities and families around the world.

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