From: Biniam Haile \(SWE\) (eritrea.lave@comhem.se)
Date: Sat Apr 25 2009 - 18:47:22 EDT
Excerpt: "Scaling-up effective interventions has led to declines in
malaria cases and deaths at health facilities in many countries,
including Eritrea, Rwanda, Zambia and Madagascar," said Veneman. "This
has the added benefit of reducing the burden on over-stretched hospitals
and clinics and having less absentees in the workplace and in school."
Press release
On World Malaria Day, UNICEF highlights successes but calls for greater
effort
WASHINGTON, D.C. - 24 April 2009 - Progress has been made in combating
malaria, particularly in Africa where the disease is most prevalent, but
more must be done to address the global scourge, UNICEF said, as it
released a new joint report on the eve of World Malaria Day.
"We are, for the first time in history, poised to make malaria a rare
cause of death and disability," said Ann M. Veneman, UNICEF Executive
Director. "The report shows that endemic African countries received
enough nets during 2004-2008 to cover more than 40 per cent of their
at-risk populations."
Data presented in the 'Malaria and Children, Progress in Intervention
Coverage' report, a joint effort with the Roll Back Malaria (RBM)
Partnership and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria,
show major signs of progress across Africa in the fight against malaria,
particularly in the increase in distribution of insecticide-treated nets
(ITNs). Since 2004 the number of ITNs produced worldwide has more than
tripled-from 30 million to 100 million in 2008.
"However every year, this disease still kills an estimated one million
people, most of them children in Africa," said Veneman. "Malaria also
affects around 50 million pregnant women annually, contributing to
maternal anaemia, low birth weight babies and even maternal death."
The theme of this year's World Malaria Day, which is marked on April 25,
is "Counting malaria out", and there are now just over 600 days
remaining until 31 December 2010, the Secretary-General's deadline for
all endemic countries to achieve universal coverage with essential
malaria control interventions.
"Scaling-up effective interventions has led to declines in malaria cases
and deaths at health facilities in many countries, including Eritrea,
Rwanda, Zambia and Madagascar," said Veneman. "This has the added
benefit of reducing the burden on over-stretched hospitals and clinics
and having less absentees in the workplace and in school."
Malaria control is now a major global development priority and is
critical for achieving the Millennium Development Goals in Africa.
Increased global awareness about malaria has contributed to a
significant rise in available resources over recent years, thanks to the
Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, the US President's Malaria
Initiative, the World Bank, and others.
"The report shows financing is now available to purchase enough nets to
put Africa well on the way to achieving universal coverage by 2010,"
said Veneman.
Background information
UNICEF is the world's largest global procurer and deliverer of ITNs with
20 million procured in 2008. The number of nets procured by UNICEF is 20
times greater today than in 2000. More than 90 per cent of these were
long lasting insecticide-treated nets that do not require re-treatment.
These nets are distributed to pregnant women and young children as part
of integrated programmes that include antenatal care and immunization.
UNICEF is on the ground in over 150 countries and territories to help
children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence.
The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries,
UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, safe water and sanitation,
quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of
children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded
entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses,
foundations and governments.
For further information, please contact:
Brian Hansford, UNICEF Media NY, +1 212 326 7269, bhansford@unicef.org
Kate Donovan, UNICEF Media NY, +1 212 326 7452, Kdonovan@unicef.org
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