The World Bank has provided 208, 000 US dollars for Zambia to study the public spending on combating malaria, Zambian Health Minister Sylvia Masebo said here Friday.

Masebo said the study will improve transparency and accountability in managing health sector resources and help reduce the occurrence of the epidemic, which is caused by microscopic parasites that are transmitted from person to person by female anopheline mosquitoes.

The disease is widespread mainly in poor tropical areas of Africa, Asia and Latin America..

Masebo said "Malaria is a leading cause of illness and death in this country despite it being completely curable and preventable."

Source: Xinhua