Roll Back Malaria Partnership: Events archive

Novartis announces 20% average reduction in price of malaria drug Coartem® to further accelerate access in malaria-endemic regions
23 April 2008 Basel, Switzerland - Novartis has announced a 20% average reduction in the price of Coartem® tablets (artemether/lumefantrine 20 mg/120 mg), the state-of-the-art artemisinin-based combination treatment (ACT) for malaria. Starting this Friday, which is World Malaria Day, this price reduction will increase access to Coartem for millions of malaria patients, especially children in low income regions of Africa.
Read Novartis Press Release

Nigeria strengthens drug safety programme focusing on ACTs
22 April 2008 Lagos, Nigeria - The Nigerian Government has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding with RaPID to strengthen the country’s capacity to conduct pharmacovigilance. The initial project will focus on the safety profile of two artemisinin-combination treatments, artemether-lumefantrine and artesunate-amodiaquine, which form the foundation of the country’s malaria treatment program.
Read Press Release

The Roll Back Malaria Partnership applauds Prime Minister Brown's commitment to donate $200 million to fight malaria in sub-Saharan Africa
9 April 2008 Los Angeles, USA - In a taped appearance at Idol Gives Back, a star-studded US television charity event, Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced his government's pledge to contribute $200 million to provide bed nets to populations at risk for malaria in sub-Saharan Africa. The Roll Back Malaria Partnership commends the UK government for joining Hollywood's musical artists and the American public in sending a tremendous message of hope to the world, and calls on the rest of the donor community to commit the funds necessary to tackle malaria once and for all.
More info: Brown in £100m war on malaria
Every child deserves to sleep safe in bed at night
BBC: Brown appears on American Idol

RBM welcomes faith-based organizations to the fight against malaria
4 April 2008 Geneva, Switzerland - The Roll Back Malaria Partnership applauds UN Foundation's new partnership with faith-based organizations to raise $200 million for the global fight against malaria.
"We wholeheartedly support this initiative," stated Dr. Awa-Marie Coll Seck, Executive Director of the Roll Back Malaria Partnership. "We are reaching a critical point in the fight against malaria. Only 3 years separate us from our 2010 global target of covering 80% of all people at risk with adequate protection and treatment. This new partnership will mobilize funding to further accelerate coverage with much needed insecticide treated nets."
Since the launch of the Roll Back Malaria Partnership, donor funding for malaria has increased from $100 million to $1 billion annually. Nevertheless, current funding covers only a third of the estimated global need. An additional $2 billion is needed every year to control malaria worldwide.
View UN Foundation Press Release

Malaria-endemic countries in Southern Africa and RBM regional partners to roll out a plan on regional malaria initiatives
3 April 2008 Maputo, Mozambique - 4 malaria-endemic countries in Southern Africa and RBM regional partners have begun reviewing progress of malaria control activities in the region at the 2nd annual general assembly of the Southern Africa Regional Network. The assembly united governmental agencies from the represented countries with multilateral organizations, private sector, research organizations and donors to coordinate and budget for malaria control initiatives in the region.
More info on SARN Meeting

RBM welcomes faith-based organizations to the fight against malaria
1 April 2008 New York, USA - The Roll Back Malaria Partnership applauds UN Foundation's new partnership with faith-based organizations to raise $200 million for the global fight against malaria.
"We wholeheartedly support this initiative," Dr. Awa-Marie Coll Seck, Executive Director of the Roll Back Malaria Partnership. "We are reaching a critical point in the fight against malaria. Only 3 years separate us from our 2010 global target of covering 80% of all people at risk with adequate protection and treatment. This new partnership will mobilize funding to further accelerate coverage with much needed insecticide treated nets."
Since the launch of the Roll Back Malaria Partnership, donor funding for malaria has increased from $100 million to $1 billion annually. Nevertheless, current funding covers only a third of the estimated global need. An additional $2 billion is needed every year to control malaria worldwide.
View UN Foundation Press Release

Gates stimulates innovation in the fight against malaria and other infectious diseases
31 March 2008 - The Gates Foundation calls for proposals for the first round of Grand Challenges Explorations, a US$100 million initiative to help scientists pursue innovative ideas for solving major global health problems.
Grant proposals are being accepted online until May 30, 2008

Distinguished Prize for Malaria
Tokyo, Japan, 26 March 2008 - The Government of Japan announced today its decision to award the inaugural Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prizes to Brian Greenwood, Professor of Clinical Tropical Medicine, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK, for his bold and innovative work on malaria and Miriam K. Were, co-founder and Health Specialist UZIMA Foundation, Kenya.
View the Press release

RBM applauds US decision to step up funding against malaria
Washington DC, 13 March 2008 - The Roll Back Malaria Partnership Secretariat welcomes the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee approval of the "Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde Global Leadership on HIV/ AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008". The USD 50bn in approved spending is expected to include USD 5bn to fight malaria between 2009 and 2013 via bilateral programs and the Global Fund. The US funding will address the challenges of tackling malaria in high-burden areas, and allow improvements in program monitoring and evaluation.
View US Senate bill S. 2731

Discover the Roll Back Malaria Zambezi Expedition
On 29th March 2008, the Roll Back Malaria Zambezi Expedition launches into a two months voyage to showcase successes and highlight challenges associated with the fight against one of the globe's leading infectious killers. This unparalleled endeavor is made possible thanks to the six malaria endemic countries in the Zambezi region and a public private partnership effort. Visit the dedicated Zambezi Expedition website today to learn more.
View RBM Press Release [in English] [en français]
Visit Zambezi Expedition website

The Gates Foundation Grants 200 million To Malaria Research and Control Programs
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation recently awarded 13 new grants, totaling almost US $200 million, to help fight malaria. This new funding adds to the Foundation's existing portfolio of grants that support initiatives to strengthen existing malaria control programmes and to pursue a wide range of research on new strategies to prevent and treat the disease. Among these new grants:

The Global Fund Opens its Eighth Funding Round
Last chance to request funding to reach 2010 Abuja targets
Geneva, March 3, 2008 - The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria today began accepting proposals for a new funding round. This year's Round 8 of proposals is the last chance for malaria-endemic countries in Africa to obtain funding for malaria control activities geared towards reaching the Abuja targets of halving the malaria burden in Africa by 2010.
The Roll Back Malaria (RBM) Partnership will provide targeted support to African countries to develop their malaria proposals for Round 8, resolve funding bottlenecks and accelerate the process of channeling funds to malaria control programmes.
RBM Partnership is focusing on the countries that are most affected by the disease to help them prepare comprehensive needs assessments and business plans for scaling-up malaria control interventions. Nigeria and the DRC are targeted for rapid assistance as they suffer half of the mortality burden in Africa and are in urgent need of funding.
View The Global Fund Press Release
More info on Round 8

Non-profit and Private Companies Unite to Develop a Low-Cost Life-Saving Ingredient in Malaria Treatment
San Francisco, CA, Emeryville, CA & Paris, France, March 3, 2008 - The Institute for OneWorld Health (iOWH), a US-based nonprofit pharmaceutical company, together with synthetic biology innovator Amyris Biotechnologies, and leading pharmaceutical company Sanofi-aventis announced today that they have entered into an agreement for the development of semi-synthetic artemisinin, a key ingredient in first-line malaria treatments.
This collaboration aims to create a complementary source of non-seasonal, high-quality and affordable artemisinin to supplement the current botanical supply, thereby enabling millions of people infected with malaria to gain consistent access to lower-cost, life-saving artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs).
View iOWH Press Release

Partners Discuss Scaling-Up Net Delivery
Geneva, 22 February 2008 - Constituencies of the Roll Back Malaria Partnership reviewed this week results from campaigns delivering long lasting insecticide treated nets (LLINs) in malaria-endemic countries in 2007.
Presentations revealed sharp decreases in malaria cases and deaths across countries in Africa and Asia due to integrated bed net delivery - the practice of distributing protective bed nets during immunization campaigns such as measles and polio.
Reports showed that the delivery of almost 6.5 million nets during campaigns in 15 malaria-endemic countries helped avert an estimated 350,000 deaths over 3 years.
View/Download Agenda of the Meeting, List of Participants, Country Planning, Minutes of Discussions;
Meeting presentations: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23]
Download zip files: [Day 1], [Day 2]

Réunion des partenaires sur l’intensification de la distribution de moustiquaires
22 février 2007, Genève - Cette semaine, les groupes d’intérêt du Partenariat Faire Reculer le Paludisme ont examiné les résultats des campagnes de distribution de moustiquaires imprégnées d’insecticide longue durée (LLIN) dans les pays d’endémie palustre en 2007.
Les présentations ont révélé des baisses importantes des cas de paludisme et des décès qui lui sont liés dans les pays d’Afrique et d’Asie au bénéfice d’une distribution intégrée de moustiquaires – à savoir la pratique qui consiste à distribuer des moustiquaires au cours des campagnes de vaccination contre la rougeole ou la poliomyélite, par exemple.
Les rapports ont montré que la distribution de près de 6,5 millions de moustiquaires au cours de ces campagnes dans 15 pays d’endémie palustre avait permis d’éviter quelque 350 000 décès en 3 ans.

Singer Jordin Sparks raises funds to fight malaria in Africa
Accra, Ghana, 19 February 2008 - Singer and American Idol Winner Jordin Sparks joined President and Mrs. Bush during their trip to Ghana to raise awareness of the devastating effects of malaria across Africa. Sparks helped raise $17 million last year for organizations working to protect African families from the deadly disease. One of these organizations, "Malaria No More" has distributed life-saving bed nets to more than 2 million mothers and children in Uganda, Angola. Madagascar, Mali and Zambia.
President Bush praised Sparks' contribution to the fight against malaria at a press event at the US Embassy in Ghana.
"We ask our fellow citizens to contribute to this worthy cause," he said to an audience moved by Sparks' soulful rendition of the US national anthem.
View MNM Press Release

Harmonization Working Group Meeting in WHO HQ

The Fourth Meeting of the RBM Harmonization Working Group
Geneva, 18-19 February 2008 - Over 30 representatives of different constituencies of the Roll Back Malaria Partnership (RBM) convened today for the 4th meeting of the RBM Harmonization Working Group (HWG). The participants reviewed the progress made in 2007 and highlighted the key areas in which malaria-endemic countries would receive assistance in 2008.
Fifteen African governments will receive technical support by the RBM Partnership on preparing their Global Fund Round 8 malaria proposals in 2008. Countries, which were awarded Global Fund grants in 2007 will receive additional assistance in signing the grants and accessing the awarded funds.
The RBM Partnership will support 21 African countries to develop comprehensive needs assessments and business plans to scale-up malaria control interventions and achieve impact.
The RBM partners agreed to develop a system for identifying and clearing funding bottlenecks on country level.
The RBM Harmonisation Group convenes twice a year to exchange experiences, assess needs, detect gaps and harmonise planning towards RMB's targets for reducing the burden of malaria by 2010.
More info on the RBM Harmonization Working Group

Le Groupe de travail FRP sur l’harmonisation définit les activités clés pour 2008
Genève, 18-19 février 2008 - Plus de 30 représentants des divers groupes d’intérêt du Partenariat Faire reculer le Paludisme (FRP) se sont retrouvés aujourd’hui pour la 4ème réunion du Groupe de travail sur l’harmonisation. Les participants ont examiné les progrès accomplis en 2007 et ont mis en lumière les principaux domaines dans lesquels les pays d’endémie palustre bénéficieront d’une assistance en 2008.
Quinze gouvernements africains recevront un appui technique du Partenariat FRP pour préparer leurs propositions pour le 8ème cycle de subventions du Fonds mondial en faveur de la lutte contre le paludisme en 2008. Les pays ayant bénéficié de subventions du Fonds mondial en 2007 recevront une aide supplémentaire pour la signature des subventions et l’accès aux fonds attribués.
Le Partenariat aidera 21 pays africains à formuler des plans complets d’estimation des besoins et des business plans en vue d’intensifier les interventions de lutte contre le paludisme pour améliorer l’impact.
Les partenaires de FRP ont convenu de mettre au point un système permettant d’identifier et de supprimer les goulets d’étranglement dans le financement à l’échelon des pays.
Le Groupe de travail FRP sur l’harmonisation se réunit deux fois par année pour échanger des informations, estimer les besoins, évaluer les écarts et harmoniser la planification en vue de réaliser les objectifs du partenariat en matière de réduction du fardeau du paludisme d’ici à 2010.

RBM Partnership Welcomes New UN Malaria Envoy
Geneva, 14 February 2008 - Statement by Executive Director of the RBM Partnership, Professor Awa Marie Coll-Seck:
We applaud the Secretary General's announcement today of the appointment of Mr. Ray Chambers as the United Nations' Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Malaria. Never before has the fight against malaria enjoyed such a surge of attention and support and it is only fitting that an individual with the leadership and initiative of Mr Chambers be given the important and challenging task of promoting collective action toward ending malaria deaths.
View the full text of the Statement by Executive Director of the RBM Partnership
WHO Director-General: Statement about United Nations Secretary-General Special Envoy for Malaria
UN Department of Public Information: Biographical Note

Arusha Olyset Factory produces 10 million nets per year
Arusha, 8 February - Vice President Dr Ali Mohammed Shein presided over the dedication of the new Olyset Net factory in Arusha, Tanzania before an audience of distinguished guests. The new factory brings Olyset, a long-lasting insecticidal net (LLIN), production capacity in Arusha to 10 million nets per year. Over 3,200 jobs have been created in the venture. Roll Back Malaria Partnership Goodwill Ambassador Yvonne Chaka Chaka and Deputy Director Julian Fleet joined partners in welcoming this increase in capacity and the partnership that made it possible. "Long lasting insecticidal nets are a vital tool in the fight against malaria. We are delighted to see such a huge expansion of local production capacity in Tanzania and the creation of more jobs, especially for women," said Dr. Awa Marie Coll-Seck, Executive Director of the Roll Back Malaria Partnership. "The transfer of this technology to Africa four years ago has reaped tremendous results and shows how innovative partnerships can produce sustainable benefits for public health."
More info fromsumitomovector.com
Read the speech of Mr Fleet, RBM Deputy Executive Director

"Olyset" à Arusha produit 10 million de moustiquaires par an
Le 8 février 2008, Arusha - Le Vice-Président Ali Mohammed Shein a présidé l'inauguration officielle de la nouvelle usine "Olyset" à Arusha, Tanzanie, en présence d'invités distingués. La nouvelle usine augmente la capacité de production de moustiquaires imprégnées d'insecticide longue durée à 10 millions par an. Plus de 3'200 emplois ont été créés dans cette entreprise.
Yvonne Chaka Chaka, l'Ambassadeur honoraire du Partenariat "Faire Reculer le Paludisme", Julian Fleet, le Directeur Adjoint du Partenariat et d'autres partenaires ont salué cette augmentation de capacité, rendue possible par le Partenariat.
"Les moustiquaires imprégnées d'insecticide longue durée sont des outils indispensables pour la lutte contre le paludisme. Nous sommes ravis de constater un tel développement de la capacité de production locale en Tanzanie et une création d'emplois aussi importante, surtout en ce qui concerne les femmes" a déclaré Dr Awa Marie Coll-Seck, Directrice Exécutive du Partenariat "Faire Reculer le Paludisme". "Le transfert de cette technologie en Afrique il y a 4 ans a permis d'obtenir d'inestimables résultats et démontre l'étendue des bénéfices durables que des partenariats innovants sont à même de faire naître dans le domaine de la santé publique."

Implementation of Indoor Residual Spraying of Insecticides for Malaria Control in the WHO African Region
8 February 2008 - The World Health Organization for Africa released the first regional report on the current status and implementation of indoor residual spraying (IRS). The report provides a detailed overview of countries' operations and achievements in terms of population coverage and issues recommendations for sound evidence-based IRS management.
View the Report

Mise en oeuvre de la technique de pulvérisation intra-domiciliaire à effet rémanent (IRS) pour le contrôle du paludisme dans la région africaine de l'OMS
Le 8 février 2008 - L'Organisation Mondiale de la Santé a publié le premier rapport régional sur le statut actuel et l'implémentation de la technique dite de pulvérisation intra-domiciliaire à effet rémanent (IRS). Le rapport détaille les opérations mises en œuvre dans chaque pays et les résultats atteints en termes de couverture de la population. Il formule également des recommandations pour effectuer une bonne gestion de la technique, fondée sur des données fiables.

Health and Business Leaders Announce an Ambitious Malaria Control Effort to Save over 3 Million Lives in 5 Years
Davos, Switzerland, 25 January 2008 - 3.5 million lives could be spared and as much as $30 billion of annual economic output gained through a rapid scale-up of malaria prevention and treatment measures in the 30 hardest hit countries in Africa, reveals a new report released today at the World Economic Forum.

Bolstered by the findings of the report, leaders in the fight against malaria convene in Davos today to announce an accelerated 36-month effort to scale-up malaria control across sub-Saharan Africa. Mr. Gupta, chair of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, World Bank Group president Robert B. Zoellick, UNICEF executive director Ann Veneman, and Professor Awa Marie Coll-Seck, executive director of the RBM Partnership will discuss a mechanism for deploying the best practices in public health and the best ideas of the private sector in the fight against malaria.
Download the press release [in English], [en français] and full report from the web site of Malaria No More.

Les leaders mondiaux de la santé et des affaires annoncent un effort de 36 mois pour intensifier les mesures de contrôle du paludisme en Afrique
25 janvier, Davos, Suisse - 3.5 millions de vies pourraient être sauvées dans les 5 prochaines années suite à une rapide mise à l’échelle des programmes de prévention et des mesures de traitements dans les 30 pays les plus touchés en Afrique, selon un nouveau rapport publié aujourd’hui au Forum économique mondial de Davos. De plus, une rapide mise à l’échelle permettrait d’augmenter en Afrique la production économique annuelle jusqu'à 30 milliards US$, de prévenir 672 millions de cas de paludisme et de libérer ainsi 472.000 lits d’hôpitaux au cours des 5 prochaines années.

Malaria-endemic countries in Southern Africa prepare to embark on a life-saving voyage on the Zambezi River
Livingstone, Zambia, 21 January 2008 - Angola, Zambia, and Zimbabwe convened today to plan a life-saving expedition that will put the plight of malaria-stricken communities in the spotlight.
The 2-month expedition along the Zambezi River will raise awareness among both local communities and international donors of what is needed to fight malaria and help strengthen cross-border collaboration on malaria-related policies.
The Zambezi Expedition project, supported by 6 countries from the Southern African Development Community, has received financial backing from the nonprofit and the private sectors and will be steered by the Roll Back Malaria Partnership.
View More info