16 August 2007

Sometimes simple is best ...

just look at the effects of simply distributing free mosquito nets in East Africa.
Kenya's heath ministry has distributed 13.5m insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) across the country since 2003. As a result, the number of children sleeping under a net increased from 5% to 52% in less than five years.... the nets have had a major impact. In four high-risk areas of country that were closely monitored, the number of childhood deaths from malaria has fallen by 44%. Three hospitals in the malarial-prone coastal areas reported a drop in admissions of 57% in 2006, compared with 1999.

The big issue was making the nets free. There are some tings that simply must be done on the basis of need not ability to pay.

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"Spend and tax" not "tax and spend"

 I got a response from my MP which got me kind of mad. You'll see why as I reproduce it here. Apologies for the strange changes in types...