World Malaria Day 2010
This Sunday is World Malaria Day. A day to celebrate all of the positive action that has been made towards the reduction and eradication of this disease (which still infects around 250m people per year), and a day to concentrate efforts towards further progress to the ambitious global targets. Visit the World Malaria Day website to find out more and show your support this weekend http://www.worldmalariaday.org/home_en.cfm
According to Andrew Jack in today’s FT special report on “Combating Malaria”, this year will mark the most hopeful World Malaria Day to date.
Why?
Well, for one Ray Chambers (the UN special envoy for malaria) is apparently confident that efforts are on track towards an ambitious mosquito net distribution programme which will complete during 2010. He quotes “today we know we can achieve the goal of universal coverage of nets by the end of this year and near zero deaths from the disease by 2015.”
Evidence also supports the fact that far more effective tools for prevention and treatment have become available and distribution methods have been improved. In addition, the pipeline of technologies is growing with more effective medicines, improved diagnostic tests and possible vaccines emerging.
However, on top of this it is undoubtedly sophisticated and wide-spread advocacy and communications programmes which have really helped shape this positive environment. Comic Relief for example put a huge emphasis on malaria, dedicating the money raised by the 2009 celebrity Kilimanjaro climbers to the disease and investing in on the ground expertise (through Malaria Consortium and the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria). In addition, this year we have the mighty football world cup in South Africa supporting the cause which will provide a truly global platform.
While there is certainly still far to go, it is exciting that World Malaria Day will this year be celebrated by the malaria community with such positivity and confidence. Visit the World Malaria Day website to find out more and show your support this weekend http://www.worldmalariaday.org/home_en.cfm
Tags: andrew jack, Comic Relief, FIFA World Cup, FT, Malaria, malaria consortium, millenium development goals, mosquito net, ray chambers, The Global Fund to fight AIDS TB and Malaria, united nations, world malaria day
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