UN report says African countries almost halfway to malaria milestone

By Li Huailin

LAGOS, March 6 (Chinese media) -- United Nations Secretary-General BanKi-moon has

received a report from his Special Envoy for Malaria, Ray Chambers, which cites

important progress toward achieving the goal of providing all endemic African

countries with malaria control interventions by the end of 2010.

According to the Ghana News Agency reports reaching here Friday, the report

emphasizes that a more intensive effort will be needed to meet the

Secretary-General's deadline.

A statement from the UN Information Center in Accra on Wednesday quoted the

report as saying that more than 40 percent of the population in sub-Saharan

Africa now had access to long-lasting insecticide-treated mosquito nets (LLINs),

compared to less than 10 percent in 2005.

The reports said more than 140 million mosquito nets had been distributed

to date, offering protection to nearly 300 million people with each net offering

protection for two people.

The Sub-Saharan Africa region is the epicenter of the world's malaria

control activities, with over 90 percent of malaria deaths occurring on the

continent.

This new report coincides with the one-year anniversary of the first

Special Envoy for Malaria Chambers' appointment and commends the

Secretary-General for leading the global malaria effort.

"We can point to definite indicators of progress, with data revealing that

LLINs now have been distributed to more than 40 percent of the population in

endemic African nations," Chambers said.

The report also underscores last year's announcement that the world can

reach near-zero deaths from malaria by 2015 and stresses that while

malaria-related objectives are within sight, a failure to increase momentum

further still will result in falling short of targets.

"At this unique moment in history, when dedicated leadership, proven

interventions, available resources and collective will have converged to turn

the tide against this scourge, we cannot permit complacency to dull our

resolve," he added.

"Over 140 million LLINs have been distributed over the past three years and

African countries are making the necessary preparations for the over 240 million

LLINs already financed for delivery between now and December 2010," he said.

He emphasizes that the same thought and energy that guided LLINs in 2008

will govern efforts pertaining to other essential interventions, such as

treatment in public health facilities, the provision of rapid diagnostic tests

and the production of an adequate number of anti-malarial medicines -

artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs).

The special envoy encourages an augmentation of current initiatives to

ensure the completion of the Secretary-General's mission, including the

fulfillment of financial commitments made by donors.