The need for a World Malaria Day

In May 2007 the World Health Assembly, attended by delegations from all of WHO's 193 Member States, considered the latest malaria reports and observed that global awareness of malaria remains low despite the high death toll and cost of the disease.
The Health Assembly thus resolved that World Malaria Day shall be commemorated annually to provide "education and understanding of malaria" and spread information on "year-long intensified implementation of national malaria-control strategies, including community-based activities for malaria prevention and treatment in endemic areas." (WHA 60.18)

Read the WHA Resolution 60.18

25 April has also been commemorated as Africa Malaria Day since 2001, a year after the historic Abuja Declaration was signed by 44 African malaria-endemic countries at the African Malaria Summit.
More info on previous Africa Malaria Days (2001-2007)