Campaign Aims to Eradicate Malaria by 2015

23 April 2010

Three babies with severe malaria receive a blood transfusion in the Siaya hospital in Western Kenya, 30 Oct 2009

Humanitarian groups have joined with African football players and major corporations to launch a new initiative aimed at combating malaria. The United Against Malaria Campaign made the announcement in Johannesburg to coincide with World Malaria Day on Sunday.

The Africa Director of United Against Malaria, Christina Barrineau, told reporters that the campaign aims to make malaria prevention and treatment available to every person on the African continent by the end of this year.

She said the ultimate goal was to eradicate malaria within five years. "Malaria is entirely treatable, entirely preventable and by achieving our 2010 targets we'll be saving the lives of millions and millions of children every year," said Barrineau.

Malaria is caused by a parasite transmitted by a certain species of mosquito. It causes debilitating fevers and is the number one killer of children in Africa. Of the one million malaria deaths each year, 91 percent are in Africa.

Experts say malaria victims occupy 60 percent of available hospital beds on the continent and reduce economic productivity by $12 billion per year.

Founded last year, United Against Malaria, brought together dozens of humanitarian organizations and corporations as well as the national football (soccer) teams of Angola, Ethiopia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Mali, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Ireland and the United States.