Based on this epidemiology malaria significantly contributes to the burden of disease as well as economic losses. According to the 2001 ��Roll Back Malaria�� (RBM) base line assessment in four districts between 39% and 44% of recorded outpatient visits were due to malaria. It is estimated that between 70,000 and 100,000 people die from malaria each year, the great majority of them children under five years. A considerable number of studies have consistently shown that the great majority of malaria episodes (50-80%) are handled in the private sector either through self-medication or consultation of drug shops or private sector facilities. However, management of malaria fevers is still poor. Only 28% of those patients seen at a health facility were managed correctly and only 7% of caretakers of children under 5 years sought treatment within 24 hours (RBM base line). The direct and indirect cost of malaria are high and it has been estimated by WHO that poor households spend up to 25% of their monthly income on malaria.
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