Business Investing in Malaria Control: Economic Returns and ... - Path

| DIRECT AND INDIRECT ECONOMIC EFFECTS OF MALARIA |
BUSINESS INVESTING IN MALARIA CONTROL: ECONOMIC RETURNS AND A HEALTHY WORKFORCE FOR AFRICA
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“Ongoing surveillance, monitoring and research
are key. Another critical success factor is the
partnership with the relevant authorities and
the local communities. The local community
in Obuasi has been involved in the project
from the outset. It is desirable in principle, but
was particularly relevant at Obuasi: the mine’s
various shafts are only a mile apart, with the
town interspersed between them, making the
mine and community an integrated entity.”
– Steve Knowles, manager of the AngloGold
Ashanti malaria control programme
The project intervention area, which covered the
Obuasi Municipal Assembly, included about 35 000
dwellings, which were all targeted for indoor
residual spraying by a team of 116 operators.
The cost of the interventions was US$ 1.7 million
for the first year and US$ 1.3 million per year
thereafter. The aim was to reduce the incidence
of malaria by 50% in two years.
Impact
From 2005 to 2009, there was a consistent annual
decrease in the incidence of malaria in Obuasi.
The total number of cases reported at the mine’s
Edwin Cade Hospital (which serves employees
and dependents) decreased from 6600 cases
per month in 2005 to 1150 cases per month in
2009. Average monthly medication costs to the
company fell from US$ 55 000 in 2005 to US$ 9800
in 2009 (Figure 1.2). Similarly, average monthly
lost days of work due to malaria fell from 6983 in
2005 to 282 in 2009 (Figure 1.3).