United Nations Radio

Marking the first-ever World Malaria Day, the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today launched a new initiative to stop malaria deaths by 2010.

The initiative will offer indoor residual spraying and protective bed nets to all people at risk; provide all public health facilities in Africa with diagnostic equipment and effective treatment, as well as extend training to health workers dealing with malaria. UN Special Envoy for Malaria Ray Chambers introduced the initiative at a special event at UN headquarters:

"What the Secretary-General is asking us to do is to do something that's never been done before - to focus on the 600 million people at risk of malaria in sub-Saharan Africa and provide universal coverage by December 31 2010. It's exactly 978 days, and we have a lot of work to do."

Mr. Chambers noted that every year malaria kills over a million people; 90% of them are children. Yet he stressed that the ambitious goal to end these deaths by 2010 is achievable. Examples of several African countries, like Rwanda and Ethiopia, have shown that with political will and resources the malaria death-toll can be reduced. The new initiative will cost six billion dollars. For comparison, productivity lost to malaria is estimated at $30 billion.

Reporting for UN Radio, I am Elena Vapnitchnaia.

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