South Korea is to give $1.18 millon to North Korea this year to boost the fight against malaria.
South Korea will purchase drugs, insecticides and other items and deliver them to the Pyongyang office of the World Health Organisation, said the ministry which handles inter-Korean relations.The aid comes despite worsening relations sparked by the new Seoul government's policy of linking economic aid to progress in denuclearisation. Humanitarian aid is not affected by the policy shift.
South Korea has supported malaria prevention efforts in the North since 2001 with the help of the UN health agency.
The number of malaria patients in the North, which was about 300,000 in 2001, has dropped sharply, with 7,436 reported last year, according to government figures.
However, a Seoul research team warned this week that the mosquito-borne disease is spreading from North Korea and beginning to take root in South Korea.
Source-AFP
RAS/M
