South Africa was today, 30 January, awarded the 2016 ALMA Award for Achieving the Malaria Millennium Development Goal Target, at the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
President Zuma proudly received the award during the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA) meeting for Heads of State and Government of the African Union.
“We are honoured to receive this 2016 ALMA Award which recognises the efforts that our programme in South Africa has made, not only in the past decade, but also investments we have made to fight malaria since the 1940s,” said President Zuma.
Malaria cases have decreased in South Africa by 82% and the deaths have also decreased by 71%, since the year 2000, to date. The decrease in malaria cases is attributed to a sound malaria vector control programme, where South Africa has used dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane or DDT odourless insecticide for Indoor Residual Spraying, coupled with other World Health Organisation recommended interventions.
“Whilst we are delighted at our successes, we will not be complacent in tackling the disease. In this regard we have committed to eliminate the disease from within our borders. We are also working with our neighbouring countries to also fight the disease in our neighbourhood,” said the President.
President Zuma is leading a South African delegation to the 26th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) in Ethiopia.
Enquiries:
Bongani Majola
Cell: 082 339 1993
E-mail: bonganim@presidency.gov.za
