UN Secretary-General’s message for World Malaria Day

(April 25, 2012) “Sustain gains, Save lives, Invest in Malaria” was the theme of the World Day of Malaria observed on Wednesday. In a message for the April 25th annual observance, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon noted that last year on World Malaria Day, we mourned the fact that one child died every 45 seconds from this disease but this year, we have managed to slow the clock. He pointed out that more children are sleeping safely under nets, more communities have access to testing, and more patients get the medicines they need to recover. He said a global coalition has boosted proven strategies, including long-lasting insecticidal nets, indoor spraying, rapid diagnostic tests and anti-malaria medicines for populations at risk. Ban noted that the efforts of this remarkable partnership bringing together governments, international agencies, donors, researchers and a range of civil society organizations and concerned individuals have saved more than a million lives. Ban pointed out that since 2000, malaria mortality rates have fallen by more than a quarter globally, and by more than a third in Africa, and now is the time to push for much greater progress. Ban stressed that achieving near zero malaria deaths is one of key priorities for the next five years. In our world of plenty, there is no excuse for not making affordable investments in malaria interventions, said Ban. Noting that a rapid diagnostic test costs about 50 cents, while a course of an anti-malaria drug costs only about $1, and a bed net that lasts three years and can protect several children costs approximately $5, he said we can lower costs even further, if we fund research to find better solutions. Ban concluded his message for World Malaria Day saying “Let us collectively pledge to close the $3.2 billion funding gap and reach our goal of defeating this disease .”