Tanzania to increase efforts to fight malaria

Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete on Wednesday during a U.S. tour said that malaria is hindering the country's development efforts and announced that Tanzania will increase efforts to fight the disease, the Guardian/IPP Media reports.

Kikwete -- who spoke at a meeting held at the Center for Global Development in Washington, D.C. -- added that the country could address malaria with effective strategies.

U.S. Ambassador to Tanzania Mark Green said that malaria remains a problem in the country because of "limited resources," adding that the disease is hindering economic development and causing unnecessary deaths. However, Green said he is impressed with the success of malaria control efforts in the Tanzanian island of Zanzibar. CGD representative Ed Scott recently visited hospitals in Zanzibar and agreed that the island's achievements in controlling malaria are impressive. "This shows how the Zanzibar government has successfully fought [malaria]," Scott said. Green added that Zanzibar's achievements could serve as a challenge to mainland Tanzania.

Kikwete is visiting the U.S. for an official tour after receiving an invitation from President Bush, who visited Tanzania in February, the Guardian/IPP Media reports (Guardian/IPP Media, 8/29).