As of April 2005, the program results were promising. In the initiative’s first five months, more than 85% of children in the five districts were treated within 24 hours of the onset of fever.

World Relief trained 329 local drug distributors and reported no deaths among children receiving treatment through these distributors. From November 2004 to February 2005 in Kibilizi district, Concern Worldwide reported that cases of children successfully treated for fever in the community rose from zero to 795.

The International Rescue Committee reported that, as of May 2005, 280 community distributors in Kirehe district were treating more than 3,000 cases of childhood fever per month.

Dr. Emmanuel d’Harcourt, the IRC’s senior technical adviser for child survival, says Kirehe’s program has been embraced equally by parents, drug distributors, and health facility staff.

“Health center staff says they have been pleasantly surprised at the care that distributors have put into their work,” says d’Harcourt. “They say they have full confidence in the distributors and can concentrate on sicker children now that simple malaria is being treated in the community.”

Community-based distribution of ant malarial drugs is a key way to reach the Rwanda target of treating 85% of kids under 5 within 24 hours,” says Dr. Jules Mihigo, former maternal and child health specialist with USAID in Rwanda.

However, major efforts are also made in preventing the disease. Recently, a new national campaign was launched under the theme “Free Rwanda from malaria now”.

“The new strategy includes the use of coartem, a newly recommended malaria drug, by children below the age of five years,” health minister said Jean Damascene Ntawukuriryayo explains. “It also includes a new health approach called Malaria Home Based Management and the distribution of free long lasting mosquito nets to people living with HIV/AIDS.”

About three million insecticide-treated mosquitoes were distributed between 2005 and 2008. Last year the ministry of health distributed 80,000 mosquito nets to people living with HIV/AIDS. More than 65% of children below five years, and pregnant women now sleep under treated mosquito nets.