Malaria strikes Africa`s GDP

Abuja, Nigeria - Africa`s economic output would be $100 billion higher this year if malaria had been eliminated in the continent 35 years ago, according to research announced yesterday.

``The evidence strongly suggests that malaria obstructs overall economic development in Africa,`` Jeffrey Sachs, the director of the Center for International Development at Harvard University, told African leaders at a summit meeting here.

``Since 1990, the per person GDP (gross domestic product) in many sub-Saharan African countries has declined and malaria is an important reason for this poor economic performance.``

According to a study conducted in co-operation with the London School of Tropical Medicine, sub-Saharan Africa`s GDP would be up to 32 percent greater this year if malaria had been wiped out in 1965, when efforts were first made, he said.

This would represent up to $100 billion added to sub-Saharan Africa`s current GDP of $300 billion. The extra is almost five times all development aid provided to Africa last year.

The short-term benefits of malaria control can be estimated at between $3 billion and $12 billion a year, depending on outside factors, he said.

African leaders called yesterday for $1billion in assistance for the fight against the disease.

Malaria exerts a series of short-term costs, from lost work time to costs linked to infant and child mortality and treatment and prevention. It also carries longer-term costs, including impeding the flows of trade, foreign investment and commerce.

``The annual loss of growth from malaria is estimated to range as high as 1,3 percent per year,`` Sachs said.

``The cost of malaria is substantially greater than economists have previously estimated.``