A few headlines

Some of the news for the day.


On World Malaria Day, UNICEF distributes mosquito nets in DR Congo
The last time nets were donated to the country, a man made a lot of money off of the free nets - at least in Beni. 
And probably elsewhere around the country.
Noe said he's still in prison and also (others have reiterated this) - that however these nets make it to Beni, you can be sure that someone is going to profit in a big way, from these "free" mosquito nets.
So this problem isn't instantly "fixed" by this attempt of UNICEF to help people... At least not yet.


Freeport versus the People of Fungurume, DRC 
"The sad fact is that TFM could be the driving force behind economic growth and sustainable development in the area. In 2010 alone, the mine produced around 115,000 tonnes of copper and 8,000 tonnes of cobalt in 2010 – and an income of nearly US$1 billion. And with reserves estimated at 119 million tonnes, the mine should be transforming the lives of everyone in the area for the better."


Congo's "Papa Machete" sculpts life out of death - Reuters 

"People are asleep here," he said. "We have to shock them."

Eradicating Malaria - BBC News

Good news for Africa!
Especially since Malaria is a frequent and expensive problem for our students, staff and friends in the community...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-15346624

18 October 2011 Last updated at 07:46

Malaria deaths fall nearly 40% worldwide in last decade

There has been a fall of nearly 40% in the number of deaths from malaria worldwide in the past decade, the World Health Organization says.

A new report said that one-third of the 108 countries where malaria was endemic were on course to eradicate the disease within 10 years.

Malaria accounts for 20% of childhood deaths in Africa.

Experts said if targets continued to be met, a further three million lives could be saved by 2015.

Malaria has been eradicated from three more countries since 2007.

The Roll Back Malaria Partnership aims to eliminate malaria in another eight to 10 countries by the end of 2015, including the entire WHO European Region.

The mosquito-borne disease is most prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa, where 85% of deaths occur. In 2009, 781,000 people died from malaria.

Robert Newman, director of the WHO's Global Malaria Programme, said "remarkable progress" had been made.

"Better diagnostic testing and surveillance has provided a clearer picture of where we are on the ground - and has shown that there are countries eliminating malaria in all endemic regions of the world," he told an international Malaria Forum conference in Seattle.

"We know that we can save lives with today's tools."

Global eradication

A global malaria eradication campaign, launched by WHO in 1955, succeeded in eliminating the disease in 16 countries and territories.

But after less than two decades, the WHO decided to concentrate instead on the less ambitious goal of malaria control.

However, another eight nations were declared malaria-free up until 1987, when certification was abandoned for 20 years.

In recent years, interest in malaria eradication as a long-term goal has re-emerged.

The WHO estimates that malaria causes significant economic losses, and can decrease gross domestic product (GDP) by as much as 1.3% in countries with high levels of transmission.

In the worst-affected countries, the disease accounts for: up to 40% of public health expenditures; 30% to 50% of inpatient hospital admissions; and up to 60% of outpatient health clinic visits.