New malaria support in Nigeria

Every household in Nigeria will have two insecticide-treated bed nets in place by December 2010, to help prevent malaria.

That is the aim of a new support scheme being launched to help reduce the malaria pandemic in the country.

The UK Department for International Development, USAID, the World Bank, the Global Fund and Unicef have all pledged to increase donations and assistance to Nigeria on this issue.

Town criers are being employed to spread the message of bed net deliveries, while volunteers are visiting homes to explain how they work.

Douglas Alexander, international development secretary for the UK, said: "It is shocking that half of all Nigerians will become infected with malaria each year.

"Over 30 per cent of childhood deaths and 11 per cent of maternal deaths in Nigeria are caused by malaria, but what is worse is that these are preventable deaths."

A White Paper was launched by the UK government last month setting out plans for combating malaria.

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