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Unitaid is hosted by the World Health Organization.
24/04/2010
World Malaria Day
The silence reigning in European skies should make the (mosquito) buzz surrounding World Malaria Day even bigger this week. On April 25th, millions around the world will focus their attention on a much more dangerous threat than volcanic ashes.
Sure, Eyjafjallajökull continues to reap havoc across Europe – with economic repercussions around the globe – but Malaria is a deadly health risk for an estimated 50% of the world’s population. Spread through the bites of infected mosquitoes, Malaria is the number one fatal disease in Africa and kills more than 2,000 children under five years old every day.
That is roughly one child every 30 seconds. Almost one million people – the large majority living in sub-Saharan Africa- succumb to this perfectly preventable and treatable disease every year.
Yet a cheap mosquito net or an ancient Chinese herbal remedy can mean the difference between life and death. In fact, malaria is entirely curable in a matter of several days. Unfortunately, such facts are largely unknown to the populace at large.
Enter World Malaria Day. An impressive range of organizations, celebrities, politicians and ordinary citizens will be speaking up to raise awareness about this disease. This year, we’ll see a wide range of events, from a fundraising drive on American Idol (featuring the Obamas) to small events around the world.
Global efforts have already saved 200,000 people and an estimated 100,000,000 people have been spared thanks to increased funding and much better spending. But money is still lacking to reach the ambitious objectives governments set up a decade ago. World Malaria Day will do just that: exhort leaders to reiterate their commitments and to actually walk the talk with new pledges.
This week don’t let the ashes cover your eyes and take a moment to browse the network of organizations that are uniting to raise awareness for World Malaria Day:
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