RBM Partner Spotlight

Calling on viewers to learn more about malaria from RBM, ExxonMobil has launched a major new malaria awareness program to be broadcast this month.
The new ad, seen on BBC World, 2-3 August, during RBM's documentary about the Roll Back Malaria Zambezi Expedition, is being broadcast during the 2008 Beijing Olympics in the United States. The ad concludes by encouraging viewers to visit the Roll Back Malaria website to find out more about how to get involved in the fight against malaria.
Read the RBM Press Statement

Interview with Admiral Timothy Ziemer, Coordinator, US President's Malaria Initiative

To mark ten years of struggle and achievement, the Roll Back Malaria Partnership Secretariat is publishing interviews with its partners. These conversations will reveal the vision and celebrate the achievements of those who, working in a multitude of different capacities from all parts of the globe, have made a difference against one of the world's major infectious diseases.

View the Interview with Admiral Timothy Ziemer,
all Leadership Interviews

TOPLINE STORIES:
MDG on malaria 'unlikely to be met', Wellcome Trust says, 23 July 2008

The Millennium Development Goal (MDG) to halt and begin to reverse the incidence of malaria globally is unlikely to be met, according to Wellcome Trust Principal Research Fellow Professor Bob Snow. The statement comes in a report published in the open access journal 'PLoS Medicine'.
Read Wellcome Trust Press Release

US President George W. Bush approves increased funding for malaria, 23 July 2008

The Roll Back Malaria Partnership expresses its appreciation to United States President George W. Bush for signing into law The Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Reauthorization Act. This law authorizes increased funding for malaria to US$ 5 billion over the next five years, and represents a remarkable escalation in US financing against this disease. "In signing this important piece of legislation, President Bush demonstrates continuing and ever-greater commitment and leadership in the global fight against malaria. The availability of this funding can enable millions of people to have access to the prevention and treatment tools necessary to combat malaria" stated Dr Awa Marie Coll-Seck, Executive Director of the RBM Partnership.

RBM commends Clinton's anti-malaria drug deal, 18 July 2008

RBM applauds the Clinton Foundation for signing an agreement with six companies in China and India to lower prices of malaria treatments. Improving access to artemisinin-based combination therapies is key to achieving RBM's targets for halving the malaria burden by 2010 and reaching the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.
Read Clinton Foundation Press Release

The Roll Back Malaria Partnership Secretariat commends the G8 leaders' reconfirmed promises to fight disease in Africa, 8 July 2008

At the Group of Eight summit in Toyako, Japan, G8 leaders reiterated previous commitments to spend $US 60 billion to fight disease in Africa. In the spirit of mutual accountability, G8 leaders set a five-year deadline to make good on their pledges. They promised to work in partnership with all stakeholders to enable malaria endemic countries to cover 85% of their populations at risk with malaria-control interventions, and specifically agreed to provide 100 million insecticide-treated nets by the end of 2010 to halt the spread of this major killer disease.
Read the G8 leaders' collective declaration

PARTNERSHIP UPDATES:
Malaria advocates call for action at International AIDS talks in Mexico

The International AIDS Society is holding its XVII International AIDS Conference from 3-8 in Mexico City. As part of an ongoing initiative to build stronger joint HIV/AIDS and malaria platforms, advocates are gathering signatures for a global petition which demands free insecticide-treated nets for all people living with HIV in malaria endemic areas.
The Petition

Ministers of Health meet in Benin for ninth Ordinary Assembly of ECOWAS, 25-26 July 2008

At the ninth ordinary assembly of the Economic Community of West African States, Ministers of Health adopted the 2009-2013 strategic plan of the West African Health Organization. The plan puts malaria at the top if the region's health agenda.
More info

RBM Partners Feed into the Plan for Global Action against Malaria, 15-17 July 2008

Over 80 RBM partners convened in Geneva today to provide final contributions to the global plan for coordinated action against malaria. The RBM plan has been developed through partnership-wide consultations with over 300 experts and will be finalised in the upcoming months. It outlines the actions needed to achieve RBM's near-term goals of 2010 and 2015 and to prepare for the elimination and the eventual eradication of the disease worldwide.
More info on GMBP

Roll Back Malaria calls for G8 attention, 2 July 2008

Roll Back Malaria Partners called on Members of Parliaments from G8 countries meeting to invest in one of the top 5 most cost-effective health interventions - malaria control. Doing so, they argued, reaps tangible rewards, generating nearly US$ 20 in benefits for every invested dollar.
View RBM Press release

RECENT EVENTS:
EARN and SARN annual planning and review meetings

EARN and SARN held their annual planning and review meetings 31 July - 1 August 2008 in Lusaka Zambia.
More info on EARN meeting
More info on SARN meeting

Discussion: Regional Decision-making Framework (RDMF) to introduce a vaccine for malaria

On 2 August, following the EARN and SARN annual meetings, PATH/MVI presented a framework document for the introduction of a vaccine for malaria by 2012.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

For information on upcoming events please check the RBM online Calendar of events and submit your events to the Calendar.