Zambia

Introduction

Malaria is endemic in all parts of Zambia and transmission is seasonal, occurring from November to May. The annual reported number of malaria cases in 2010 was 4,229,839 with 4,834 deaths.

Progress

Zambia has made significant progress in scaling-up malaria control interventions. The country has achieved high coverage of Case Management of malaria including at community level, as well as universal LLIN coverage. Zambia has banned oral artemisinin-based monotherapies and has removed tariffs on ACTs, RDTs, insecticides and spray pumps. The country has introduced a policy on Community Case Management of malaria and has taken steps to introduce a policy on Community Case Management of pneumonia. The country has met the Abuja target of 15% national financing for health, and announced earlier this year a 45% increase in health expenditure. The country has sufficient resources to maintain universal coverage of essential malaria control interventions in 2012, with the exception of a small shortfall in ACTs. Zambia has also made significant progress on key MNCH interventions, in particular, increasing coverage of PMTCT.

Impact

There has been significant impact in malaria control in Zambia. The number of reported malaria admissions has fallen from 308,662 in 2001 to 199,732 in 2010 while malaria deaths have declined from 9,369 in 2010 to 4,834 in 2010. However there has been an increase in the number of reported malaria cases, malaria admissions and malaria deaths in 2010 compared to 2009.

Key Challenges

• With the cancellation of the Global Fund Round 11, there is a risk that high coverage will not be sustained unless the funding gaps are closed.