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Call for an end to malaria deaths | Call for an end to malaria deaths |
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United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is to launch a new campaign to eliminate deaths from malaria, to mark the first World Malaria Day. | United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is to launch a new campaign to eliminate deaths from malaria, to mark the first World Malaria Day. |
The disease causes over a million deaths a year, with 90% of all cases occurring in Africa. | The disease causes over a million deaths a year, with 90% of all cases occurring in Africa. |
Mr Ban wants all of Africa to have access to basic measures to control the disease by the end of 2010. | Mr Ban wants all of Africa to have access to basic measures to control the disease by the end of 2010. |
"We need desperately to step up our efforts to roll back malaria", he says in a statement. | "We need desperately to step up our efforts to roll back malaria", he says in a statement. |
More than half a billion people are infected with malaria each year, and the disease kills a child every 30 seconds. | More than half a billion people are infected with malaria each year, and the disease kills a child every 30 seconds. |
Despite this, it is preventable and treatable. | Despite this, it is preventable and treatable. |
Bed nets | Bed nets |
In a video message for a UN World Malaria Day event, the Secretary-General announces an initiative offering household sprays and bed nets treated with insecticide "to all people at risk, especially women and children in Africa" by the end of 2010. | In a video message for a UN World Malaria Day event, the Secretary-General announces an initiative offering household sprays and bed nets treated with insecticide "to all people at risk, especially women and children in Africa" by the end of 2010. |
| He is calling for: |
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Mr Ban describes this as a "bold but achievable vision", saying that several African countries "have made dramatic strides in malaria control". | Mr Ban describes this as a "bold but achievable vision", saying that several African countries "have made dramatic strides in malaria control". |
Malaria still kills more than one million people every year... The toll it is taking is unacceptable - all the more so because malaria is preventable and treatable Ban Ki-moonUN Secretary-General War fever: Malaria in conflict | Malaria still kills more than one million people every year... The toll it is taking is unacceptable - all the more so because malaria is preventable and treatable Ban Ki-moonUN Secretary-General War fever: Malaria in conflict |
But he adds: "the most affected nations remain off track to reach the goal of halting and reversing the incidence of the disease." | But he adds: "the most affected nations remain off track to reach the goal of halting and reversing the incidence of the disease." |
Previous efforts to control malaria have proved less than successful. | Previous efforts to control malaria have proved less than successful. |
In 1998 the Roll Back Malaria initiative aimed to halve malaria deaths by 2010 - but halfway through the programme deaths had actually risen. | In 1998 the Roll Back Malaria initiative aimed to halve malaria deaths by 2010 - but halfway through the programme deaths had actually risen. |
Reversing the trend of increase in malaria and other diseases is one of the UN's Millennium Development Goals, aimed at halving poverty and improving the quality of life by 2015. | Reversing the trend of increase in malaria and other diseases is one of the UN's Millennium Development Goals, aimed at halving poverty and improving the quality of life by 2015. |