World Malaria Day 2008
25 April 2008
 Today, 25 April, is World Malaria Day 2008. It is an opportunity for everyone to
learn about the consequences of the disease, to share lessons on how to control
it, and to join the worldwide effort against it.
A day to think about malaria
The reality is bleak. An entirely preventable disease, malaria kills 1 million
people a year, mostly children and pregnant women in Sub-Saharan Africa. Figures
show that a child dies from malaria every 30 seconds, yet all of these children
could be protected by sleeping under a bed net treated with insecticide, which
many families cannot afford.
But this year there is also reason for optimism. A number of African countries
have managed to slash malaria deaths in the space of a few years. They have done
so through proven, cost-effective prevention and treatment, and increases in
funding for malaria control. Crucially, malaria is moving up the development
agenda, and the UK is taking the lead.
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More funding for lifesaving nets
 Earlier in April, Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced funding to supply 20
million bed nets – 1 in 6 of the 120 million bed nets the world needs. Appearing
on American Idol, the PM challenged world leaders to join in the effort, and
commit the money to supply all 120 million nets by the time they meet at the
United Nations this September. The United Nations has since has teamed up with
religious, business and sports leaders to announce a new push to send
insecticide treated bed nets to Africa.
Bed nets are the key prevention tool. When enough families in a community or
a country sleep under a bed net, the number of mosquitoes carrying the parasite
falls. But what about those who are sick and need treatment?
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DFID: At the forefront of the fight
DFID funding has recently contributed to the development of a new once-a-day,
fixed-dose combination treatment for malaria, for all ages (including infants,
which is a true innovation in the field). ASMQ (AS- artesunate and MQ -
mefloquine) means that that the combination of drugs can be taken together and
in the correct proportions. And it comes in small, crushable tablets suited to
children.
DFID has long been at the forefront of efforts to turn the tide against malaria.
We provide support to national malaria programmes, but also research and
development, and international organisation and partnerships, among them the
Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria, and the Roll Back Malaria Partnership. In
addition, the Call to Action seeks to
support this effort and drive forward the need for global action to accelerate
progress on the MDGs.
The UK recognises the devastating impact malaria has on communities,
particularly on children in Africa and Asia. In addition to the loss of life,
malaria impacts on economies, perpetuating poverty. In partnership with many
other countries and organisations we are striving to stop malaria in its tracks.
While we have achieved much in the fight against malaria in recent years, we
must all make the most of the current excellent opportunities to accelerate the
pace of malaria control.
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