The crisis in the Central African Republic has exacerbated the humanitarian needs in a country that ranks 188 out of 188 on the Human Development Index, and has some of the poorest health indicators in the world.
The heavy burden of malaria
In the world, a child dies of malaria every two minutes.
90% of malaria deaths occur in Sub-Saharan Africa. About 3.2 billion people – almost half of the world's population – are at risk of malaria. The disease also contributes greatly to anaemia among children — a major cause of poor growth and development.
Malaria is a leading cause of mortality in the Central African Republic. The warm and humid climate, the long rainy season and millions of hectares of forest provide ideal conditions for mosquitoes to develop and survive in the country.
Pregnant women and children under five are more vulnerable to developing malaria due to lowered immunity.
A severe malaria infection can kill a child within hours.
According to national health data in the Central African Republic, 58% of consultations in health facilities and 45% of hospital deaths are related to malaria cases.
However, this figure is likely underestimated as cases also occur among the displaced population, the poor and the most marginalized populations who have no access to health facilities.
Access to life-saving treatment is extremely low. It is estimated that only 34% of children under five benefit from an appropriate treatment.
According to surveys, in 2010, only 36% of children under five and 40% of pregnant women slept under impregnated bed nets.
UNICEF's goal in the Central African Republic is to scale up and accelerate nationwide malaria prevention interventions.
UNICEF focuses on 4 key prevention and treatment interventions:
1- Prevention through insecticide-treated net use
2- Prevention and control of malaria during pregnancy and routine immunization of children under one
3- Training and sensitization on preventive actions against malaria
4- Prompt and effective treatment of malaria using appropriate anti-malarial medicine
Thanks to Nothing But Net's support,
an extensive distribution of Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets (LLITN) has been undertaken in the Central African Republic.
The distribution targets not only pregnant women but also children under five — two of the most vulnerable groups affected by malaria.
Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets provide a physical protection against mosquitoes. The insecticide helps to reduce the lifetime of a mosquito and thus decreases the chance of malaria transmission to another person.
Once a sufficient number of people are using Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets, the number of mosquitoes is significantly reduced: the entire community is better protected.
Under this specific programme funded by
Nothing But Nets, over 300,000 vulnerable people received Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets since January 2016.
96% of pregnant women attending ante-natal care and 82% of children under one attending routine immunization received a long lasting insecticidal net.
"The distribution alone does not help. The correct use of Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets is crucial as it can reduce the prevalence of malaria by 80%." Dr. Ghislain Banthas, CAR's Department of Health official, head of the capital's 3rd sanitary district.
Health workers have been trained on techniques for securing and managing insecticide-treated nets, and, about 1,000 community mobilizers and 51,000 households have been sensitized on preventive activities against malaria.
Rapid gains have been made: results of consultations for malaria show a significant reduction of malaria cases among children under one.
On behalf of the children in the Central African Republic, UNICEF CAR wishes to thank
Nothing But Nets for their constant support.
