Roll Back Malaria Board Chair appoints Rt Hon Stephen O'Brien MP UK as Global Advocate for Malaria
17 May 2013 Geneva, SWITZERLAND: - Roll Back Malaria Board Chair, Hon Victor Makwenge today designated the Rt. Hon. Stephen O’Brien, Member of Parliament in the United Kingdom, as Global Advocate for the RBM Partnership. In this new role Rt. Hon. Stephen O’Brien MP will work with parliamentarians and other elected officials in malaria endemic countries to help reinforce political commitment to accelerating the fight against malaria in the countdown to the 2015 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Read RBM press release [in English], [in French]
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RBM welcomes advent of first non-plant-derived artemisinin
16 May 2013 Geneva, SWITZERLAND: - The semi-synthetic artemisin, developed by the pharmaceutical company Sanofi, has now been declared acceptable by the World Health Organization for use in the manufacturing of artemisinin-based medicines against malaria.
"This is a key development for the malaria community," said Dr Fatoumata Nafo-Traoré, RBM Executive Director, as representatives of RBM partner organisations came to Geneva to attend the 24th meeting of the RBM Board. "Semi-synthetic artemisinin gives us the chance to boost the production of life-saving treatments and increase access to them in places where they are still sorely needed."
Artemisinin is the key ingredient in artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs), recommended by WHO as a first-line treatment for uncomplicated falciparum malaria. Its production has so far depended on extraction from the plant Artemisia annua. As non-plant-derived-artemisinin becomes available, the manufacturing of ACTs would no longer be fully dependent on seasonal artemisinin production.
RBM Board to discuss accelerating anti-malaria fight to meet the MDGs
15 May 2013 Geneva, SWITZERLAND: - Representatives of all eight constituencies of the Roll Back Malaria Partnership have gathered in Geneva today for the 24th meeting of the Partnership’s Board. Determined to make a tangible difference in the 900 days that remain to the MDGs and 2015 malaria targets, the Board will discuss strategic choices for boosting scale-up efforts in countries and ensuring that malaria control programmes remain appropriately funded and effective post 2015.
View Meeting Agenda
More info on RBM Board
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To view more on Partnership activities visit RBM Events archive and RBM Calendar of Events