World Malaria Day

Today is World Malaria Day.

Malaria kills a child somewhere in the world every 30 seconds. It infects 350-500 million people each year, killing 1 million, mostly children in Africa. Ninety per cent of malaria deaths occur in Africa, where malaria accounts for about one in five of all childhood deaths. The disease also contributes greatly to anaemia among children — a major cause of poor growth and development. Malaria infection during pregnancy is associated with severe anaemia and other illness in the mother and contributes to low birth weight among newborn infants — one of the leading risk factors for infant mortality and sub-optimal growth and development.

UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund) is a partner in the US President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), which was established in June 2005 and pledged to increase funding of malaria prevention and treatment by more than $1.2 billion over five years.

“Reversing the spread of malaria is crucial for the survival, health and development of children, especially in Africa. Reducing the incidence of malaria will help achieve the Millennium Development Goals.” --Ann Veneman at White House Summit on Malaria, December 2006