Shown in the picture, from left to right: James Knight, U.S. Ambassador to Benin, Dr. Imorou Karimou Yacoubou, National Coordinator of the National Malaria Control Program, Pr. Issifou Takpara, Minister of Health, Janet Schulman, Acting Director of USAID, Dr. Milton Amayun, USAID Family Health Team Leader. (Photo: USAID) |
03.15.2010
As part of the Presidential Malaria Initiative (PMI), the Government of the United States of America continues its collaboration with other partners to support the Government and people of Benin in their fight against malaria.
"Benin has developed a good strategy against malaria," said Knight, "the U.S. Government and partners rely on the political commitment of the Government of Benin to continue its fight against malaria.”
The endowment that the U.S. Government gives to Benin today consists of furniture and office equipment, conference room furniture and audiovisual equipment, and a broadband Internet connection. The conference room is now equipped with modern and adequate equipment to accommodate meetings and workshops as part of the fight against malaria.
The contribution of the Government of the United States of America will help improve the working conditions of staff of the National Program to fight against malaria, and optimize the performance of the program in coordinating the fight against malaria in Benin.
Since 2008, the PMI has been supporting the fight against malaria in Benin. Among the many accomplishments of PMI are:
-The distribution of 835,000 mosquito nets impregnated with long lasting pesticide for distribution to children under five and pregnant women during routine consultations,
-The acquisition of 1 million drug treatments for the management of malaria in health facilities,
-The acquisition of 2.3 million tablets of drugs for the intermittent preventive treatment of pregnant women during pregnancy,
- The protection of 521,000 people in four communes of Ouémé by indoor spraying of homes,
-The purchase of 30 kits for microscopy to improve the diagnosis of malaria.
With this new donation, the Government of the United States of America and the American people reaffirm their support to the Government and people of Benin in their fight to cut by 50 percent the number of death caused by malaria by 2011 in order to improve the well being of the Beninese population and promote the economic and social development of Benin.
Janet Schulman, Director of USAID attended the ceremony at which James Knight, the U.S. Ambassador to Benin, presented the donation to Dr. Imorou Karimou Yacoubou, National Coordinator of the National Malaria Control Program (NMCP), in the presence of the Minister of Health, Professor Issifou Takpara.
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