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Malaria
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Together
We Can Beat Malaria:
April 25 Is Africa Malaria Day
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(Courtesy: Ministry of Health, Democratic
Republic of Congo) |
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Malaria, one of the great global killers, weighs most heavily on Africa
and its young children:
- Every thirty seconds a child dies in Africa, killed by malaria.
- Of the estimated one million malaria deaths that occur every
year in the world, 90% are in Africa, mostly in young children.
To confront this daunting public health problem, heads of state and representatives
from 44 African countries met in Abuja, Nigeria, on April 25, 2000, and
signed the Abuja
Declaration, committing their countries to halve malaria deaths in
Africa by 2010. This event is commemorated every year on Africa Malaria
Day, offering an annual opportunity to raise the world’s awareness
of Africa’s fight against malaria.
The Abuja goal is indeed achievable:
- Malaria is preventable and curable.
- Effective tools and strategies are already used to combat
malaria (e.g., drugs, insecticide-treated bednets, indoor insecticide
spraying).
- Research is underway to improve current tools and strategies
and to develop new ones (e.g., vaccines).
- The global community offers increasing financial and technical
support to fight malaria.
To mark Africa Malaria Day 2005, major events will be held worldwide,
including Lusaka, Zambia; Washington DC, USA; and Brussels, Belgium.
This year’s theme, “Unite Against Malaria,” and the associated
slogan, “Together We Can Beat Malaria,” underscore the importance
of collaboration among all stakeholders, as exemplified by the Roll
Back Malaria Partnership.
Africa Malaria Day 2005 will also be an occasion to take stock of the
situation, midway toward the goal of 2010. The Abuja Declaration proposed
intermediate targets, to be reached by 2005: 60% of people suffering from,
or at risk of, malaria would have access to treatment and protective measures.
Evaluating the extent to which these interim targets have been reached
will guide the efforts of the next 5 years, toward the ultimate goal of
halving malaria deaths by 2010.
Resources
World Health Organization – Regional
Office for Africa – Africa Malaria Day
Roll Back Malaria – Africa
Malaria Day
Page last modified : April
7, 2005
Content source: Division of Parasitic Diseases
National Center for Zoonotic, Vector-Borne, and Enteric Diseases (ZVED)
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