AFRICA MALARIA DAY 2002
MOBILIZING COMMUNITIES TO ROLL BACK MALARIA

Africa celebrated Africa Malaria Day on April 25th. This year the focus was on the Community - particularly on community members such as health workers, mothers, shopkeepers, birth attendants and others who often provide the first point of contact for sick people living in remote, under-served areas.

Africa Malaria Day 2002, which marked the second anniversary of the Abuja Declaration, highlighted and celebrated the work done by these individuals, whose efforts often go unrewarded and unrecognised. Countries across Africa organised large scale activities supported by a huge range of partners - WHO, UNICEF, World Bank, UNDP, multi/bi-lateral agencies, international, national and local NGOs, and the private sector, while other partners used the day to organise their own activities.

Many thanks to everyone who used this opportunity to join forces and get behind Roll Back Malaria's efforts to halve the burden of malaria by 2010.

Any reports or pictures from Africa Malaria Day that you would like to share can be emailed to us at InfoRBM@who.int.