AMMREN COMMUNIQUE AT THE END OF MALARIA FORUM TO MARK WORLD MALARIA DAY.

Release

25 th April, 2008

Today marks World Malaria Day which is being observed under the theme; Malaria, a disease without borders and the sub theme; Malaria-The Connection with other preventable diseases.

African Media and Malaria Research Network (AMMREN), a network of African journalists and scientists working together to eradicate malaria in Africa, applauds the global efforts of governments, and other stakeholders to Roll Back Malaria in Africa.

As we celebrate this day, AMMREN once again wishes to remind African leaders of their pledge in Abuja, Nigeria on 25 April, 2000, to i ntensify efforts to half malaria mortality for Africa's people by 2010.

At that meeting, 53 African Heads of State and Governments committed themselves to;

• initiate appropriate and sustainable action to strengthen health systems to ensure that by the year 2005 at least 60% of those suffering from malaria have prompt access to, and are able to correctly use, affordable and appropriate treatment within 24 hours of the onset of symptoms,
• ensure that at least 60% of those at risk of malaria, particularly children under five years of age and pregnant women benefit from the most suitable combination of personal and community protective measures such as insecticide treated mosquito nets and other interventions which are accessible and affordable to prevent infection and suffering,
• ensure that at least 60% of all pregnant women who are at risk of malaria, have access to intermittent presumptive treatment.

Eight years down the line, not much has been achieved. Not more than 60% of Africa’s people suffering from malaria have prompt access to, and are able to use correct, affordable and appropriate treatment within 24 hours of onset the of symptoms. 90% of the worlds Malaria deaths of children under 5 years still occur in Africa.

There is still no reduction in the 350-500 million global clinical malaria episodes resulting in more than one million deaths.

As Africans, we should be worried that over 80% of the over 1 million deaths caused by malaria globally occur in our continent each year and that malaria remains the leading cause of under-five mortality. Malaria still constitutes 10% of the continent’s overall disease burden and accounts for 40% of public expenditure, 30-50% of inpatient admissions and up to 50% of outpatient visits in areas with high transmission.

Absenteeism among school children and diminished or lost worker productivity, all contribute to make malaria a significant contributor to low economic growth in endemic countries, estimated at costing African countries about US $ 12 billion annually.

AMMREN therefore calls on heads of state and governments in Africa to implement well-coordinated, integrated country-wide programmes to drastically reduce the rate of malaria infection in Africa. In particular we ask that more money be provided for malaria research to assist policy makers in their planning efforts towards malaria control.

We call on National Malaria Control Programmes in the various African countries to step up the efforts on malaria education to reduce the ignorance around the disease that results in unnecessary.

We call on major development partners to increase funding for malaria research and work with affected countries to agree on a global plan for malaria

AMMREN believes malaria can be eradicated with concerted efforts from all fronts.

Malaria control is everybody's business and everyone should contribute.