This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/health/7366301.stm

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Call for an end to malaria deaths Call for an end to malaria deaths
(10 minutes later)
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 netsBed 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:
  • Bed nets for an extra 500 million people
  • More malaria clinics and preventative treatment centres
  • More training for community health workers
  • Encouragement of research into the disease
He is calling for:
  • Bed nets for an extra 500 million people
  • More malaria clinics and preventative treatment centres
  • More training for community health workers
  • Encouragement of research into the disease
  • 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 conflictMalaria 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.