Since 1997 the Department for International Development (DFID) has provided support for malaria control, targeted at both children and adults, through international organisations and partnerships, bilateral programmes and research. In April the Prime Minister announced that the UK will provide 20 million insecticide treated bed nets which are vital for protecting children from malaria and to prevent malaria deaths.
DFID is providing £1 billion by 2015 to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria. To date the Fund has disbursed US$ 5.5 billion, 25 per cent. of which goes to malaria programmes. DFID has also provided £49 million to the Roll Back Malaria (RBM) Partnership which plays an important role in helping countries develop and secure finance for national malaria plans.
At the country level, DFID support in Kenya, Mozambique and Nigeria includes the treatment of children.
DFID provides over £16 million for new drug development through its support for the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative, (DNDI) and the Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV). Both are developing new malaria drugs.