WHO/DG/SP

Dr Gro Harlem Brundtland: Director-General: World Health Organization Africa Malaria Day: Press Conference: Abuja 25 April 2001

Mr President
Your Excellencies
Honourable Ministers
Colleagues

Thank you for joining us all this evening at this reception to mark the first Africa malaria day.

We come together at a time of powerful African leadership for human development and for equitable globalisation.

Mr President: you are a vivid example of this leadership. I have witnessed this personally - when you visited me in Geneva and engaged me in your vision for the people of your great country; when you launched the campaign to Roll back Malaria at the Summit meeting here, a year ago today; when you presented you plan for Africa's recovery with President's Mbeki, Mkapa and Wade earlier this year, in Switzerland.

Leadership is being shown by the Organisation for African Unity - championing Africa and her people in political settings; securing unity of purpose and action, and focusing on real change - the outcomes that reflect people's development.

Heads of State establishing the vision and leading the movement for change, for a world that treats its people, and uses its resources in a fairer and more equitable manner. You are changing the nature of discourse between Africa and the rest of the world.

This is particularly evident in the way the leaders of Africa, Africa's people and African institutions have moved forward in response to the challenge of malaria. Last year you recognised the damage caused to individuals, to societies and to nations by this parasite. You set a clear goal - to halve malaria mortality in ten years. You adopted four specific strategies, and agreed to pursue them through actions that involved all sections of society and several sectors of government. You undertook to involve the private sector and civil society, encouraging the effective use of scarce resources. The first review of progress, after a year, shows that we are starting to roll back malaria. It is hard work and progress is uneven: yet we see firm foundations and the tender shoots of early success.

Now we know we can do it, we will scale up. We will move now, building on the momentum. We will encourage local, national, regional and global communities all to play their part.

We have learnt the value of partnership, helping us to achieve outcomes that are impossible if we insist on working alone. We have seen the value of pursuing clear strategies, agreed by all stakeholders. We appreciate the importance of concentrating on outcomes, and of tuning our social systems - health, education, local government or environment - to make sure that they deliver.

I am sure that we will all learn from our experience with Roll Back Malaria as we confront other major challenges - HIV and sexually transmitted infections; tuberculosis; the dangers of pregnancy; even the difficulties faced by children from their early years through to adolescence.

Now is the time to focus on what has to be achieved - to scale up and deliver results: to roll back the threats and suffering, and promote the well-being of Africa.

Thank you, Mr President, for leading us along this vital, but difficult, path.