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Chad Targets Universal Mosquito Net Coverage with Global Fund Grant

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Chad
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Global Fund
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Geneva - The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has signed a € 25.17 million euro grant that will help provide nearly every family in Chad with a mosquito net by July 2014 and make a transformative difference against malaria in that nation.

Malaria has been the main cause of child mortality in Chad, where 169 children out of every 1,000 that are born die before reaching their fifth birthday.

"Chad stands on the threshold of a major breakthrough in its fight against a disease which has taken a disproportionate toll on children," said Lelio Marmora, the Global Fund's Department Head for Africa and the Middle East.

The aim is to achieve a 75 percent fall in malaria deaths among children under five by 2015.

The new grant, made available under the Global Fund's new approach to funding, will finance the procurement and distribution of more than 5 million long-lasting insecticide-treated nets in the country's 13 most populous regions.

These will replace nets that were distributed in 9 regions in April 2011 under a previous grant and which are now reaching the end of their useful life. The net distribution campaign will also target 4 additional regions that have not been supplied with nets before.

An additional 2 million nets are also being provided for distribution with funding from the Government of Chad and other donors.

Chad is expected to achieve universal coverage, defined as 80 percent of the population living in households with nets, by July 2014. By the end of 2014, at least 95 percent of the general population in the 13 regions targeted by the grant are projected to be protected by nets.

The grant's Principal Recipient is the Fonds de Soutien aux Activités en matière de Population (FOSAP). UNICEF and the National Malaria Control Program are sub-recipients, with responsibility for procuring and handing out the mosquito nets.

An existing malaria grant, active since July 2011, covers malaria testing through rapid diagnostic tests, anti-malaria treatment and intermittent preventive therapy in pregnancy, as well as routine distribution of nets.

For more information please contact:

MARCELA ROJO
Media Relations
Mobile: +41 79 540 2667
E-mail: marcela.rojo@theglobalfund.org