The Fight

About Malaria

Malaria, one of the world's most common and serious tropical diseases, causes at least one million deaths every year. More than half of the world's population is at risk of acquiring malaria...

Malaria in Africa

At least 300 million acute cases of malaria occur worldwide each year, resulting in more than two million deaths annually -- more than 90% of which are estimated to occur in sub-Saharan Africa, mostly among women and children under five years of age.

Global Initiative

On 25 April 2000, African leaders from 44 malaria-endemic countries participated in the first-ever African Summit on Malaria in Abuja, Nigeria. To highlight the gravity of the malaria situation on the continent, the leaders at the Summit also declared that 25 April of each year would be commemorated as Africa Malaria Day.

2000- African Summit

On 25 April 2000, African leaders from 44 malaria-endemic countries participated in the first-ever African Summit on Malaria in Abuja, Nigeria. At the Summit, the leaders signed the historic Abuja Declaration committing governments to an intensive effort to halve the burden of malaria in Africa by 2010 and setting interim targets for the year 2005. To highlight the gravity of the malaria situation on the continent, the leaders at the Summit also declared that 25 April of each year would be commemorated as Africa Malaria Day.

For more detail on AMD, visit the Roll Back Malaria Partnership website at www.rollbackmalaria.org

AMD 2001- "The First Africa Malaria Day"

On the first anniversary of the global initiative, activities and announcements were planned in various countries in Africa. These countries staged their own events tied to the global event with an emphasis on activities that encourage community action to control malaria.

The main launch took place in Abuja, Nigeria to coincide with the Heads of State gathering for the AIDS, Tuberculosis and Other Infectious Diseases Summit. The Director General of WHO and the Regional Director of UNICEF addressed a press conference where a recently commissioned study on the progress by African States to reduce taxes and tariffs on insecticide treated bed-nets was made available to the public. In the spirit of mobilizing communities to control malaria, the Director General of WHO, visited Kuje village near Abuja where a malaria control program is being operated. She had the opportunity to see and hear about progress in tackling malaria since the last Abuja Summit. Some of the various activities in the countries are described as follows:

In Mozambique, there were national and local broadcasts on radio and television, while festivals took place in major towns and His Excellency President Chissano delivered a speech. In Togo, public demonstrations were held on the use and re-treatment of bed-nets, while articles were published in newspapers. In addition, football matches were planned in 35 districts and the Minister of Health read out a message on malaria. In Nigeria, rallies took place in communities and essay competitions were planned in numerous schools. The messages from the competitions were to be aired on television and radio. In Malawi, a 2K walk was planned along with local campaigns in schools and communities. The Minister of Health delivered a speech preceded by entertainment in the form of traditional dances and drama performances. In Cameroon, country roundtables were organized and the discussions broadcasted locally and regionally. Malaria clubs were established in schools and students performed using the theme of the burden of malaria. In Botswana, the Minister of Health launched the Roll Back Malaria plan and sports matches took place between schools from different parts of the country. In Chad, messages on different aspects of malaria were delivered via radio and television broadcasts, articles, posters and banners. Public debates and conferences were held to widen the discussion on malaria.

AMD 2002- "Mobilizing Communities to Roll Back Malaria"

For 2002, the focus for Africa Malaria Day was on the Community - particularly on community members such as health workers, mothers, birth attendants and any others persons who often provide the first point of contact for sick people living in remote, under-served areas. Africa Malaria Day 2002, which marked the second anniversary of the Abuja Declaration, highlighted and celebrated the work done by these individuals, whose efforts often go un-rewarded and unrecognized. Countries across Africa organized large scale activities supported by a huge range of partners - WHO, UNICEF, World Bank, UNDP, multi/bi-lateral agencies, international, national and local NGOs, and the private sector, while other partners used the day to organize their own activities. To create awareness at global, regional, country and particularly at community level in order to mobilize communities to control malaria and specifically reinforce the need for prompt access to treatment. To celebrate the role of the health worker in the community as a key player in the national health system and give them a platform for the day. Create greater awareness in communities about the fact that health workers are there to help in the fight against malaria. Remind communities what the health worker in the community does and can do for them. Use the example of health workers , their work and the difficulties they face to sell to the malaria story to national and international press. To monitor progress against the Abuja targets specifically referring to access to treatment To use Africa Malaria Day to help kick off long lasting campaigns and IEC programs targeting community and country level.

AMD 2003- "Roll Back Malaria, Protect Women and Children"

This year's Africa Malaria Day was designed to bring the continent closer to the attainment of the 2005 Abuja targets and calls for action, as indicated in the theme and slogan, by targeting the two highly vulnerable groups, pregnant women and children. In this regard, it urged African governments to vigorously promote policies and strategies designed to ensure availability, affordability and accessibility of ITNs to these vulnerable groups. Secondly, it urged African governments to ensure that anti-malarial drugs are readily available at all levels of their health systems. It further called on African governments to develop policies that encourage the management of fevers at home. Yet efforts to obtain more rapid progress toward the attainment of the Abuja targets will come to little without concerted campaigns from all of us involved in the fight against malaria. Effective communications and advocacy campaigns around Africa Malaria Day are indeed a vital part of this effort. With this in mind, MAL/AFRO had proposed the following guidelines to help in-country teams ensure effective campaigns at AMD 2003. It is proposed that National Malaria Control Programs (NMCPs) use these guidelines to come up with innovative approaches best suited to their own environments. These guidelines could also be used in possible work with national and community level RBM partners, perhaps through AMD 2003 committees, in preparation of national and community level commemoration ofAMD 2003. Propose ways of ensuring that AMD 2003 is a high profile event, both at the national and community levels. Elaborate a detailed strategy and plan of activities for high profile national and community level commemoration of AMD 2003, and sustained activity throughout the year. Ensure AMD 2003 campaign is sustained throughout the year. Carry out reviews of malaria situation, in relation to the Abuja targets, and use for national and community level advocacy Prepare and timely distribute information and promotional materials including but not limited to press releases, feature articles, in-depth reports, public service announcements, background documents, educational materials, posters, TV spots and TV documentaries based on the slogan and theme for AMD 2003. Monitor and evaluate the commemoration of Africa Malaria Day and later activities at national and community level.

AMD 2004- "A Malaria Free Future: Children for Children to Roll Back Malaria"

“A Malaria Free Future" as the theme for Africa Malaria Day 2004 focused on children as the future, and provided African children with the opportunity to campaign on their own behalf and help to raise awareness of large numbers of children and adults in malaria-endemic countries through activities in schools, youth clubs, churches and anywhere children congregate. These children will then be engaged at the community, district, regional and urban-center levels as teachers and advocates for malaria control. With raised awareness will come increased action against malaria paving the way for a malaria-free future. That year's main Africa Malaria Day event was held in the Matam region of Senegal, an area that has suffered greatly from malaria and is now intensifying its control efforts. From Friday 23 April to Sunday 25 April, communities throughout the region participates in various activities (including children's forums, net distribution and re-treatment, medical consultations) designed to raise awareness and spur action against malaria, culminating in official ceremonies on Africa Malaria Day itself with the participation of local, national and international dignitaries.

AMD 2005 - "Unite Against Malaria: Together We Can Beat Malaria"

2005's theme for Africa Malaria Day was "Unite Against Malaria", and the associated slogan was "Together We Can Beat Malaria". The theme highlighted the crucial element of a successful fight against malaria: partnership. Malaria is not only an African problem, and global cooperation is needed to defeat it. All stakeholders—from donor-country and endemic-country governments to specialized agencies to community groups and individuals—must work together, coordinating their efforts to best achieve their common goal of rolling back malaria. That year’s commemoration of Africa Malaria Day was particularly symbolic as it marked the halfway point between 2000—the year of the African Summit on Malaria in Abuja, Nigeria—and 2010, the year by which the 44 African leaders at the Summit pledged to halve the burden of malaria in Africa. That year was to take stock of progress towards the goal of halving malaria, using the interim objectives for 2005—known as the Abuja Targets—set by the leaders at the Summit, and to chart the course for the next five years and beyond, with a renewed commitment to unity and coherence in the fight against malaria.

AMD 2006 - "Get you ACT together: Universal Access to Effective Malaria Treatment is a Human Right

Like every year, the malaria community commemorated Africa Malaria Day on 25 April to show solidarity with African countries battling against this scourge. This day has been set aside by African governments committed to rolling back malaria and endemic countries all over Africa will be raising their voices in unison. Many other parts of the world also suffer from malaria just like Africa: Thailand, the Amazon region, India, and Vietnam for instance. Africa Malaria Day is therefore an opportunity for ALL countries to reaffirm their commitment to reduce the burden of this disease.

2006's Africa Malaria Day highlighted the need to provide universal access to artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) and call for these treatments to reach those who need them as quickly as possible. Since the establishment of the GFATM in 2002, a total of US$ 230 million have been allocated for programs fighting the disease, mainly for the procurement of ACTs, and mostly for African countries. The GFATM grants enable countries to scale up their fight against the three diseases in a sustainable way by strengthening health systems and paying for drugs, diagnostics, mosquito nets and other commodities.

AMD 2007 - "Free Africa From Malaria NOW! Leadership and Partnership for Results"

Free Africa from Malaria NOW!" was the slogan for 2007 Africa Malaria Day. It emphasized that there is no time to waste in the urgent struggle against malaria. The slogan recognized the tremendous burden of malaria on the lives and economies of those living in endemic countries. With malaria claiming the lives of children and incapacitating adults, the disease is holding back the development of an entire continent. The slogan is an appeal not only to the urgency but also to the possibility of immediate action. New funding and new technologies are starting to show impressive results, already saving the lives of hundreds of thousands of Africans. With more resources, more coordination and more leadership, we can save and improve the lives of millions - NOW!

This imperative also builds on the Dakar Appeal in which African governments of endemic countries are calling upon the global community to step up its efforts to strike back at malaria. Leadership and Partnership for Results is this year's Africa Malaria Day theme. It highlights how we need to move forward to free Africa from malaria. It emphasizes strong leadership and effective partnership as keys to achieving our goals. Leadership is required at all levels to meet the challenges of scaling up malaria control. Countries must show leadership in prioritizing malaria and increasing their health budgets. They must demonstrate leadership in managing malaria resources effectively - a successful use of existing funds is most likely to attract new financial resources. Community and corporate leadership is also critical in effective implementation, as is the leadership of NGOs and others working at all levels.

Partnership is key in overcoming implementation bottlenecks and ensuring that commodities begin to flow to where they are needed most. Only by working together can we hope to control malaria. Partners must coordinate and harmonize their activities under the leadership of countries with a clear focus on achieving results.

Results means saving lives! This will happen on a large scale if countries can achieve 80% coverage of populations at risk with insecticide treated nets, indoor residual spraying, and the most effective malaria treatments available today - ACTs.

WMD- 2008 "World Malaria Day: Malaria- A disease without borders"

In May 2007, the WHO's 193 member states attended the World Health Assembly 60th consortium and thus resolved that Africa Malaria Day should become World Malaria Day in order to provide "education and understanding of malaria' and spread information on "year-long intensified implementation of national malaria control strategies.

The members states of the WHO agree that greater awareness is needed to help mobilize communities across the world to get involved.

On April 25, 2008 various projects were organized worldwide in the United Kingdom, Uganda, Mozambique and Germany, the United States, Brussels, Benin, Canada, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ethiopia, France, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Japan, Lao, Malawi, Nigeria, Pakistan, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Switzerland, Tanzania, Zambia.

APRIL 25th IS WORLD MALARIA DAY

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