Thursday, April 25th is World Malaria Day, a day established by WHO member states to draw attention to the continuing need for investment in, and commitment to, the fight against malaria. The theme for 2019 is, “Zero Malaria Starts With Me”.
The World Health Organization’s World Malaria Report 2018 revealed that over half the world’s population are at risk from malaria, with more than 400,000 deaths in 2017. Over the last decade, substantial progress has been made in the control of malaria, but progress has stalled for the second consecutive year, and the benefits reaped by malaria control efforts over the years can be lost unless long-term investments and commitments are made to ensure continued success. Let’s step up the fight against malaria.
To mark the day, the Corporate Alliance on Malaria in Africa (CAMA) and members will hold a series of activities to engage decision-makers, the private sector and civil society across Africa, including malaria-training program for employees, an awareness campaign and other community outreach, media articles and more.
Events across the globe are also being organized, including the Paris World Malaria Day event and private sector engagement in malaria elimination event holding in Bangkok on April 25th.
Omobolanle Victor-Laniyan, Head of Sustainability, Access Bank; Co-chair Corporate Alliance for Malaria in Africa, said:
“Malaria has huge impacts that cut across all sectors; causing a massive burden on health systems. Consequently, this leads to reduced productivity of corporate organisations and impaired economic growth. While there have been significant interventions made globally, progress in accelerating the impact of interventions focused on malaria control and elimination have stalled for the second consecutive year. To end the scourge of malaria in Africa, there is an urgent need for collective action from the Government, Private Sector and Implementing partners to increase investments and access to life saving interventions, foster strategic collaborations to prevent new cases and empower Africans to take action to end Malaria. At Access Bank, we remain committed to this cause, and we implore you all to join the fight against this killer disease.”
Join us in this fight and help to create awareness about malaria on World Malaria Day on social media, using the hashtag #WorldMalariaDay, #ZeroMalariaStartswithMe, and #StepUptheFight.