Roll Back Malaria initiative

An information and awareness seminar on the Roll Back Malaria initiative in Benin took place on Friday in Abomey-Calavi, near Cotonou, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). The seminar, organised by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with WHO-Benin, aimed to inform and create awareness among the some 50 participants of the severe effects malaria has on Benin's population and to get their support for the implementation of the project there, the news release said. Malaria is the most common reason for consultations at health centres in Benin and on average some 116 out of every 1000 inhabitants are affected each year. The malaria rate is as high as 356 per 1000 among babies under the age of one year. Fatality rates vary between 5 and 10 percent, WHO said. Participants in the seminar included government officials from the health, rural development, communication, public works, environment, social welfare and territorial administration departments. Representatives from health training centres in the public and private sectors were also present, the news release said. The global Roll Back Malaria initiative, launched on 30 October 1998 by WHO, UNDP, UNICEF and the World Bank, aims to reduce malaria by half by 2010, promote human development and decrease poverty levels.