Now let us break these walls
Statement by Dr Awa Marie Coll-Seck, Executive Director of RBM, the global public-private partnership against malaria

Geneva, 25 April 2008: On the list of global problems calling for the world's attention, malaria may not seem at first as a top-tier priority. It kills over 1 million people annually and infects between 350 and 500 million. It slows down economic growth in endemic countries by as much as 1,3%. Yet there are deadlier diseases in the world, and conflict and chronic hunger plague even larger numbers of people.

Malaria may not appear to be a top-tier problem but tackling it once and for all is a top-tier solution to some of the most daunting global issues of our time. Investing in malaria is investing in poverty eradication, in reducing child mortality, in combating major disease and in achieving universal primary education.

More importantly, investing in malaria is addressing a problem that has a well-defined solution. We know what we need to do to alleviate the malaria burden: the know-how is available, the commitment of donors and key actors to fight the disease has never been as firm, and the funding gap that has prevented progress for a long time is beginning to close.

With Roll Back Malaria Partners gearing up to meet the 2010 RBM deadline of covering all people at risk with malaria prevention and treatment, the international community has a unique opportunity to help step up and win the battle against this global threat to public health.

On 25 April, the first World Malaria Day, the RBM calls upon governments, international organizations, donors, private sector actors, NGOs and research institutions to join in the acceleration of current efforts to provide effective prevention and treatment for malaria across the globe.

The theme for World Malaria Day 2008, "Malaria - a disease without borders," calls for a global approach to malaria control as the RBM prepares a global business plan detailing the short-term strategy and articulating the medium and long-term needs and objectives of the fight against malaria.

It is time to recognize that even the safest national borders cannot protect us from global threats such as malaria. It is time to break the divides between different sectors of international work and integrate our efforts at achieving the goal of covering all people at risk with malaria prevention and treatment by 2010. This goal is every bit as achievable as it is worthwhile. And it is time for us all to reach for it.