RBM Partnership Welcomes New UN Malaria Envoy
Statement by Executive Director of the RBM Partnership, Professor Awa Marie Coll-Seck
Geneva, 14 February 2008: 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.
The international community needs to ensure the world accelerates the battle against this scourge which is global in scope and burden. We know it can be defeated if we work together as a family of nations, agencies and partners.
UN agencies took the lead in the fight against malaria with the creation of the RBM Partnership in 1998 under the auspices of the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the World Bank and UNDP; the UN then established the Decade to Roll Back Malaria in 2001 - 2010 especially in Africa and member states have increasingly prioritized malaria, placing it high on their health and development agendas. The UNs 60th Birthday was marked in 2005 with an international celebration "United Against Malaria" which drew artists and musicians from the global malaria community together in concert and the first World Malaria Day will be commemorated this year on April 25th 2008.
Mr Chambers is a philanthropist and humanitarian who has directed most of his efforts toward at-risk youth. As the Founder and Co-Chairman of Malaria No More, Mr Chambers brought partners together from the private- and public-sectors to make a difference in the global fight against malaria. He will continue in this new capacity to motivate government, institutions, and business to eliminate malaria as a public health threat.
We welcome Mr Chambers and we salute his life-long commitment to public service. He is the Founding Chairman of the Points of Light Foundation and Co-Founder, with Colin Powell, of America's Promise - The Alliance for Youth. Mr Chambers is the Co-Founder of the National Mentoring Partnership and served as Chairman of The Millennium Promise Alliance. Under his capable leadership, the malaria community grows stronger in its ability to fight malaria, reduce illness and save lives.
Contact:
Prudence Smith RBM Secretariat
+ 41 79 477 1744