012/APR/2013/PR
Since world leaders adopted the Millennium Development Goals in
2000, a broad partnership of governments, United Nations entities,
philanthropies and businesses has combined to protect hundreds of millions of
people from malaria. Increased
international funding, matched by growing political commitment in endemic
countries, triggered a massive increase
in preventive interventions and expanded access to diagnostic testing and life-saving
medicines, averting more than a million deaths.
The MDG target of
halting and reversing the incidence of malaria is now in sight, and 50 countries are on
track to reduce their malaria burden by at least 75 per cent by 2015. However, major challenges
remain. Malaria continues to inflict a major
toll on least developed countries – primarily in Africa
– and millions of people still lack access to life-saving interventions.
In Africa , malaria kills a child
every minute. Weak surveillance systems
mean that cases are vastly under-reported; and governments and the World Health
Organisation have too little information about where malaria occurs and how
trends are changing, although improvements in data collection
are under under way.
Emerging resistance of the malaria parasite to drugs, and mosquitos to
insecticides, are further complicating efforts to combat this persistent threat
to lives and productivity.
Recently, global funding for malaria control has plateaued. Although half the resources needed to achieve
near-zero deaths from malaria by the 2015 MDG deadline have
been committed, there is still a near-$3 billion annual shortfall. This is starting to slow the scale-up of key
malaria interventions in Africa , particularly
the distribution of long-lasting insecticide treated mosquito nets.
To prevent malaria from resurging, and to continue to alleviate
suffering, especially in the 10 countries with the highest malaria burden, the
international community needs to provide the necessary funding to protect all at-risk
groups and support research and innovation to develop new tools. Replenishment of the Global Fund to Fight
AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria should be a priority. .
The theme for this year’s global World Malaria Day campaign is “Invest
in the future. Defeat malaria”. Controlling malaria does more than improve
human health. It boosts social
well-being and economic development. I urge the global health community, including
political leaders in endemic countries, to maintain their commitment to provide
universal access to malaria interventions and end needless suffering from this
preventable and treatable disease.
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