According to survey results published by PNLP, about 50 percent of the Benin population think that malaria is caused by excessive consumption of oil, prolonged exposure to the sun and witchcraft. Another cause of malaria identified by PNLP is non-use of mosquito nets among the population. According to Dr Charles da Silva the PNLP, through the ministry of health, is carrying out advocacy to get from the Benin government tax exemption on imported goods used in the manufacture of impregnated mosquito nets. Meanwhile, the WHO said that one African child dies from malaria every 30 seconds, and the disease kills one million Africans a year. The disease's direct or indirect financial consequences stand at about 12 billion US dollars a year.
Malaria also has other negative human consequences.
Thus, in pursuance of the Abuja Declaration aimed, among others, at providing at least 60 percent of malaria patients with access to rapid, adequate and affordable treatment within 24 hours of the first symptoms, Benin decided, along with other African nations, to celebrate the first malaria control day throughout its territory. The other objectives of the Abuja Declaration are that at least 60 percent of all pregnant women should have access to chemoprophylaxis, that at least 60 percent of the risk population, especially pregnant women and children under five years of age, should have mosquito nets impregnated with insecticide and have access to affordable community services.