United Nations Radio

The Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria is giving a grant to 47 towns of the Amazon Region of Brazil to treat and prevent malaria over the next two years.

Brazilian man with children

The grant of 17 million Euros will fund the Project for Malaria Prevention and Control in the Brazilian Amazon, launched on Monday by the Minister of Health, Jose Gomes Temporāo in Manaus, the capital of the State of the Amazonas.

The project will carry out faster diagnosis, early and effective treatment and distribution of long-lasting insecticidal mosquito nets.

Community based- organizations and leaders are participating in the implementation of the project.

According to the Global Fund, 99 per cent of malaria transmission in Brazil takes place in the Amazon region.

The Fund also says around 70 per cent of malaria transmission in 2007 took place in the 47 Amazon towns selected to benefit from the grant.

Diane Bailey, United Nations Radio.

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