17 November 2004, Arusha, Tanzania
Your Excellency, President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Honourable Ministers, Global Fund Board Chair and Executive Director, all other members of the Roll Back Malaria Partnership, Chief Executive of A to Z invited guests, ladies and gentlemen!
It is my great pleasure to be here today, at this Textile Mill in the heart of Tanzania which is leading African production of the very latest technology in malaria prevention, the Olyset Long Lasting Insecticidal Net known as Magic Power or Nguvu za Ajabu.
This long lasting insecticidal net is special in two ways. First and most importantly, it offers essential longer lasting protection from a disease which kills 3000 children every day. Malaria not only devastates the lives of families in nearly every community in Africa - it also places an enormous burden on the economic development of the entire continent. 12 billion dollars are lost to Africa each year because of malaria.
Today, in 2004, no one should die from a disease which is preventable, controllable and treatable.
Malaria is a disease that all of us gathered here today can do something about - and that brings me to my second point.
This long lasting insecticidal net is special because it represents the power of a unique partnership. Nearly two years ago a small group of RBM partners believed they could do something about malaria in Africa which would benefit both the health of Africans and contribute to Africa's development at the same time.
These partners are all here with us today, The Acumen Fund, ExxonMobil, Population Services International, Sumitomo, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF),the World Health Organization, and finally of course, our hosts, A to Z Textiles. These organizations represent foundations, the private sector and the multilateral agencies; each one had a unique and important role to play in making sure the long lasting insecticidal net came to Tanzania to stay.
Successful partnership is about working together towards a shared vision. I congratulate all of you for reaching your goal.
Your Excellency, ladies and gentlemen, I believe this is a new era for malaria control. With these new long lasting nets, improved and effective treatments known as ACTs, other control interventions, increased funding - particularly from the Global Fund and strong partnership, we have the potential to make a big difference. If we can replicate the success of A to Z to ensure adequate supplies of long-lasting insecticidal nets, and work with pharmaceutical companies to ensure continuous ACT supplies, we will, as Partners in Rolling Back Malaria dramatically reduce deaths caused by this terrible disease.
Today, on behalf of the Partnership, I would like to thank you all for being here and for demonstrating the power of partnership - its' magic power !
Your Excellency, Honourable Ministers, we thank you for welcoming us to your country to witness this tremendous success which has made Tanzania a pioneer of new technology in the fight against malaria . We are also grateful to the Global Fund for making today's visit possible and for their continued support in financing malaria control plans and essential commodities for countries.
May I also extend our sincerest thanks to Mr Anuj Shah, the Chief Executive of A to Z, Binesh Haria and all the employees of the A to Z factory who have worked so hard to make this dream a reality. As RBM Partners, all of us here today should be proud of this initiative and the growing momentum of the global Roll Back Malaria Partnership. Together we can roll back malaria ( in Kiswahili ).