Angola
About 200 000 deaths from malaria each year could be averted if African governments follow new World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines, soon to be released, and switch from the far less effective medication quinine to artesunate, according to Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF).
International Activity Report 2007:
Saving lives and learning lessons
In 2006, Angola's worst-ever recorded outbreak of cholera affected 15 of the 18 provinces. The crisis emerged just as MSF was withdrawing from the country after 23 years, a fact that may have restricted the initial reaction and delayed intervention. Despite treating almost 40,000 people, MSF directors requested a full evaluation of the programme to determine MSF's effectiveness and efficiency and, equally important, document any lessons learned.
Although cholera had previously been endemic in Angola, there had been no significant outbreaks in 10 years. However, the many years of civil war had seen massive population movements into towns...
