Zanzibar: A Glimmer of Hope

If there is a silver lining during this trip, we found it on the tropical island of Zanzibar. It is low season so the island is rather quiet as far as tourists, but the beauty of the desolate coast is breathtaking. Not only is it aesthetically an oasis in the desert, but it is a model of what can happen in terms of turning a health crisis around when the proper precautions, education, funding, and government commitment are in place. Other countries have looked at Zanzibar's programs as a roadmap to wiping out malaria in other countries in Africa.

We visited the east coast of Zanzibar after meeting with the country's president Amani Abeid Karume. We stopped at a poor village in the midst of a popular touristy section called Jambiani. The natives greeted us with song and dance. They are singing for good reason. Malaria has practically been eradicated in their community -- and on the island as a whole.

All of them have nets, access to care and drugs, subsidized funding for medication, and have been educated about malaria prevention and treatment, spraying is also in force. The endless pot holes (which serve as breeding grounds for mosquitoes) and standing water -- aren't quite as bad as they are in Tanzania, either.

In Tanzania, the standing water is literally everywhere. I am here at the end of the rainy season. Once it ends the mosquitoes will have an opportunity to breed in the stillness of the leftover puddles and come out in another month or so in full force.

Zanzibar is a predominately Muslim country of 1 million people. It is a 15-minute plane ride from the mainland of Tanzania. The poverty outside of the powdery white sand that borders the Indian Ocean is similar to Dar Es Salaam. These people also have their struggles, but Louis emphatically notes that the success here is a prime example of what is possible when the government is committed to this problem and has proper funding: Malaria can be eradicated and babies do not have to continue to die.

This cheerful community of 5,000 had an infection rate of more than 100% in 1997. This means that not only did every single person in their village get malaria each year, but some got it more than once. They have not had a confirmed case since October 2005. The infection rate is now down to less than 1% per year. It is common for people, including the U.N. Tanzanian officials traveling with us, to get malaria 2-3 times a year.

The president acknowledged in his meeting with us that HIV is a devastating problem in Africa -- still -- but malaria must be conquered alongside of it. Both together are crippling the African continent.

One note: While Zanzibar is a model for malaria, there is still much to be done for women regarding HIV and gender equality, which will be noted in a separate entry.

Related Topics: Malaria Vaccines in Development, WebMD Inteview: Doctors Without Borders

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