Efforts to end malaria deaths in Africa

UN SECRETARY General Ban Ki-moon launched a campaign on World Malaria Day yesterday, calling on the world to ensure all of Africa has access to basic malaria control measures by the end of 2010.

He said African countries hardest hit by malaria have fallen behind in the fight against the disease, which the World Health Organisation estimates kills 1.3 million people each year, mostly children under five.

“In recent years, several African countries have made dramatic strides in malaria control, but the most affected nations remain off track to reach the goal of halting and reversing the incidence of the disease,” he said.

More than 40% of the world’s population, in more than 100 countries, is at risk of catching the mosquito-borne disease.

Although malaria kills most of its victims in sub-Saharan Africa, the disease also hits people in Asia, Latin America and in the Middle East.

The UN chief and his special envoy for malaria, Ray Chambers, said they wanted all African countries to have enough mosquito nets or quality household sprays for the entire population by December 31, 2010, along with sufficient malaria clinics and preventative treatment centres for high-risk pregnant women.

The US National Institute of Health said malaria has proven to be “remarkably resilient, re-surging because of the emergence of both drug-resistant parasites and insecticide-resistant mosquitoes.”

Earlier this month, the WHO said climate change may exacerbate health crises as patterns of global rainfall, droughts and storms could accelerate the spread of diseases like malaria.

The UN boss urged aid agencies and non-governmental organisations to expand their anti-malaria activities: “We have the resources and the know-how but have less than 1,000 days before the end of 2010.”