The World Bank Board of Executive Directors last week
approved an International Development Association (IDA) grant of US$31
million to Benin for a Malaria Control Project. The grant makes Benin the
seventh country to benefit from the World Banks Booster Program for Malaria
Control in Africa in less than a year.

Malaria is the leading cause of death among children in Benin and the leading
cause of illness among adults. While Benin has made substantial progress in
fighting malaria, registering successes at district level, a nationwide
scale-up with proven strategies has yet to be attempted.

The Malaria Control Booster Project will support implementation of the
Government of Benins 2006-2010 Roll Back Malaria Strategic Plan, which aims to
cut the countrys malaria burden in half. Key areas that will be supported
include malaria treatment capacity principally in the public health sector and
non-government organization for the pregnant women and children under 5 years
of age, scaling up malaria prevention activities by large-scale distribution of
long-lasting insecticide treated bed nets to vulnerable populations,
strengthening national monitoring and evaluation system, and capacity
development of both public and non-public sector. Improving access among the
poor to long-lasting treated bed nets and effective treatment will receive
priority attention.

"Our rationale for supporting this important project is really quite simple,"
said Diarietou Gaye, World Bank Country Manager for Benin "Malaria places an
unacceptable tax on development in Benin. While we seek to support the country
more broadly through the Poverty Reduction Support Credit, it was clear that
malaria needed specific attention to bring down the burden of disease."

While the project aims to support rapid coverage increases, it also places
emphasis on the sustainability of success, such as through the development of
public-private partnerships to increase prevention and treatment coverage for
vulnerable and rural groups. In addition, support will be provided to
strengthen training institutes and universities, such as a diploma program in
entomology, to build malaria control capacity in Benin.

An area of key importance is the expansion of prompt access to
artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs), particularly among children
under five years of age, which is the age group at greatest risk of dying
without rapid treatment. As ACTs are expanded, the Bank will support the
Government of Benin to closely monitor drug resistance.

"What is particularly important to note about this project is the way in which
other partners have rallied around the opportunity," said Nadeem Mohammad,
World Bank Task Team Leader for the Malaria Control Project. "Without the
support of the Roll Back Malaria Partnership, particularly the strong technical
leadership provided by the World Health Organizations office in Benin and a
strong malaria control team in the Ministry of Health, it would not have been
possible to prepare this project. With the real work ahead of us now, well be
counting on continued support from all partners"