Counting Malaria Out
Statement by Professor Awa Marie Coll-Seck
Executive Director, Roll Back Malaria Partnership
Delivered on the occasion of the Opening of the Photo Exhibition entitled "Malaria, Blood Sweat & Tears"
at United Nations Headquarters in Commemoration of World Malaria Day 2010
On April 22, 2010
In New York City, United States of America
Your Highness,
Mr. Secretary-General,
Excellencies,
Partners and Colleagues,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am delighted to address such a distinguished audience at a time when countries around the globe commemorate World Malaria Day. Your very presence here today is an indication of our collective success in bringing the issue of malaria to the global public eye.
A decade ago, the ravages caused by malaria in Africa and other parts of the globe were barely visible to world leaders in prosperous western cities like New York. A disease of poverty, malaria silently devastated communities across the global South. Its victims - mostly children and pregnant women in Africa - could do little to exercise their unalienable right to life, health, education and dignity. For them, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights remained a lofty ideal, touching in its humanity but tragically out of reach.
But in this new millennium, a wind of change has stirred Africa and the world.
In 2000, African Heads of State committed to bold targets to reduce malaria cases and deaths on the continent by 2010. World leaders put forth the challenge of "halting by 2015 and reversing the incidence of malaria," as one of the eight Millennium Development Goals, to which all UN member states committed. A global public-private partnership - Roll Back Malaria - started uniting the expertise and resources of hundreds of governments, multilateral and donor organizations, foundations, NGOs, researchers and the private sector to stop the spread of malaria.
And then it was your work over the years, the tireless efforts of hundreds of RBM Partner institutions, the energy and commitment of global activists and advocates that took the fight against malaria from remote villages in Africa to the heart of world capitals and megacities. Your leadership, resolve and smart action have put a neglected health issue in the international limelight and on the global health and development agendas. And for that, I thank you.
As an African woman, a mother, a doctor, and the Executive Director of the RBM Partnership, I am also deeply grateful to Her Royal Highness Princess Astrid of Belgium - RBM's Special Representative since 2007 - for her invaluable contribution to global advocacy and fund-raising for malaria control. She has brought much more than hope to Africa. She made country efforts visible, she brought donor support to control programmes, helping countries and partners save lives. Thank you, Your Highness.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The theme for World Malaria Day this year is "Counting Malaria Out."
The vision for this theme reflects an unprecedented ambition. It is based on the realistic opportunity we now have before us to drastically reduce malaria deaths, start eliminating the disease and eventually eradicate it.
A decade ago we counted in horror the millions who died or fell sick of malaria. Today we can also count the lives that have been saved thanks to high net coverage, the children who have survived their 5th birthday and the pregnant women who have had healthy pregnancies and healthy babies because of access to effective malaria prevention and treatment.
Experience over the past few years has clearly demonstrated that with resources, political leadership and a sound action strategy, it is possible to increase coverage with malaria interventions and that when that happens, the malaria burden falls dramatically.
With remarkable ten fold increases in funding for malaria control since 2004, countries like Eritrea, Swaziland, Botswana, Equatorial Guinea, Zambia and other countries have reduced malaria deaths and cases by 50 percent though widespread application of effective measures countries.
Across Africa countries are ramping up efforts to improve access to interventions and reach for the 2010 targets of achieving universal coverage and halving malaria mortality. Congo and Nigeria for instance - which together bear 36 percent of the malaria burden are currently mounting the largest net distribution campaigns in the history of malaria control in an effort to rapidly protect at risk populations with bednets.
But 2010 is not only a milestone year for endemic countries. It is also a test year for the international community and foreign donors. The challenges to multiplying successes in Africa and the rest of the world are many, especially in high-burden countries where health and data collection systems are often weak, infrastructure is poor, human resources are inadequately trained and paid and access to international funding often uncertain.
Development aid needs to continue flowing to national malaria control programs to sustain progress as well as bring it to all of Africa and to other regions where malaria is a major health problem.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Universal coverage is not target-setting for its own sake. It is based on solid scientific evidence, which shows that malaria control interventions work and that they contribute to achieving broader health and development goals.
Malaria control improves child survival and maternal health and preserves both lives and livelihoods. It keeps parents at work, children and teachers at school and lifts barriers to reaching the vision of the Millennium Declaration.
It is fitting that this year we mark Word Malaria Day at United Nations Headquarters in New York, where the Millennium Development Goals were set. Reducing malaria control will greatly propel global efforts to reach the most inspired and ethical goals humanity has ever set for itself. In those trying economic times, development aid needs to be invested strategically in cost-effective solutions. Malaria control has proven time and again to be one of the best health investments, yielding high social and economic returns.
It is equally fitting that this year Word Malaria Day will be commemorated at the highest level in the Republic of Tanzania. Tanzania is a country which is showing much success in all aspects of malaria control. The Island of Zanzibar has set a gold standard example in succeeding in reducing malaria deaths by more 71 percent. Tanzania also continues to nurture essential malaria research and trials which will take us into the future with new tools and vaccines. It is also in Tanzania that innovations in new technology have inspired the long lasting mosquito net and where - telephone technology has been tested in an effort to track stocks of life-saving drugs.
I would like to acknowledge the inspirational leadership of His Excellency Jakaya Kikwete, who has taken up malaria as a global health challenge and is leading the continent of Africa as Chair of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance - ALMA - to meet the global targets set in Abuja in 2000, as well as answering the call for Universal Coverage, and moving forward towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.
The world counts on us to help sustain global focus on malaria. The evidence we have today gives us good reason to believe that it is possible to count malaria out in many countries this year and reach for the ambitious goals of the Millennium.
Finally, let me acknowledge the great privilege that we have today to hold this event against the backdrop of such a striking exhibition. It is very impressive and it shows the fight against malaria in its true colours. Special thanks to the photographer, Adam Nadel for bringing those powerful images to our attention. Many thanks to all Partners and UN Secretary General's office for their initiative and their unwavering support.
Thank you.