Swaziland sees malaria fight progress

The fight against the spread of malaria in Swaziland is generating positive results, it has been claimed.

Assistance from international health groups combined with a concerted effort from central government has led to significant progress in the bid to eliminate malaria – dubbed one of the most deadly "opportunistic" diseases on earth – from the country.

Dr Simon Kunene, director of the health ministry's Malaria Control Unit, welcomed the news and was quick to reflect on the prospects for the future health of the country.

Dr Kunene told the Swazi Observer: "There has been good progress bringing down the number of new malaria cases as well as mortalities and now our goal is eradication.

"The gains of the past few years have given us confidence that eradication is within reach."

The Swazi government estimates that 30 per cent of its population (around 340,000) lives within malarial areas.

Figures from the World Health Organisation indicate that 880,000 children died from malaria in 2006, most of whom lived in Africa.