Foreword
Many of us who have spent our lives working for human health and development understand the tremendous challenges that must be overcome to achieve impact at a global level. Yet, we are driven daily by the desire to alleviate the unnecessary suffering caused by preventable disease.
Malaria impacts the lives of 3.3 billion people in 109 countries each year, the majority of which are already among the world’s most vulnerable. Current prevention and treatment tools have led to significant progress in malaria control. With rapid scale-up of these interventions and continued investment in malaria programs and research, we are confident that a malaria-free world will be achieved.
Greater attention, stronger leadership and more resources are being devoted to malaria control and elimination today than at any time in the past forty years. We are at a critical tipping point in the global fight against malaria. If we can bolster ongoing efforts, align leadership, build partnerships and leverage available resources, we can build the momentum needed to eliminate malaria in a number of countries. However, if this momentum is not sustained, progress stalls and funding wanes, our failure comes at the price of millions of lives needlessly lost.
The Global Malaria Action Plan presents a strategy to achieve our shared vision of near zero deaths from malaria and eventual eradication in the long term. A product of collaboration among hundreds of experts, this plan issues an urgent call for action, critical to making our vision a reality.
Every individual and organization reading this report has a vital role to play in building a world free of malaria. No single group is large enough, knowledgeable enough, or powerful enough to achieve such a goal alone. Malaria eradication worldwide will require leadership, management, resources and unwavering commitment at the community, national, regional and global levels. In addition, it demands public, private and civil society partnerships, aggressive research and development, strong health systems, coordination of commodities and services, and the harmonization of global support.
The Global Malaria Action Plan offers a strategic way forward for policy makers, advocates, health workers, donors, researchers and all those rallying against malaria. Working together, many countries have seen a significant reduction in malaria deaths in recent years. Looking ahead, this plan further equips us to tackle ambitious but achievable goals, including cutting malaria cases worldwide in half by 2010 and reaching near zero deaths from malaria by 2015.
With an unwavering commitment to end the scourge of malaria and stop the millions of senseless, preventable deaths from the disease, we challenge those standing alongside us to utilize the guidance and innovation of this comprehensive plan as we work together for a malaria-free world.
| Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus Chair of the Board, Roll Back Malaria Partnership Minister of Health, Ethiopia |
Matthew C. Lynch, PhD Vice Chair of the Board, Roll Back Malaria Partnership Director, Global Program on Malaria, Center for Communication Programs, Johns Hopkins University |
Prof. Awa Marie Coll-Seck Executive Director Roll Back Malaria Partnership |
