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News/Event Item
New Global Health Council Report Highlights What Works in the Fight Against Malaria
Press Release
Contact: Lynnette Johnson Williams, Press Secretary
202.327.5003 (office) or ljohnsonwilliams@globalhealth.org
2 December 2003
New Global Health Council Report Highlights What Works in the Fight Against Malaria
GENEVA - A new Global Health Council report, "Reducing Malaria's Burden: Evidence of Effectiveness for Decision Makers," highlights proven, feasible but underutilized strategies in the international fight against malaria. The report, launched at the Global Forum for Health Research in collaboration with international health experts and leading public health scientists, details in one report the best available evidence on what works to prevent and treat malaria.
"Tragically, more people die from malaria today than 40 years ago. In order to reduce the intolerable toll of malaria, we must use existing knowledge and treatments effectively and deliver them to those who are in greatest need," said Nils Daulaire, president and CEO of the Global Health Council.
Malaria kills an estimated 1-3 million people annually and inflicts life-long disabilities on many millions more. The illness disproportionately affects women and children, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa where 90 percent of malaria deaths occur. While effective treatment has been available for decades, a rise in resistance to antimalarial drugs has made fighting malaria more difficult. Environmental change, war and other complex emergencies have also lead to a resurgence of malaria, especially in Africa. The authors comprehensively detail the effectiveness of insecticide-treated bednets and indoor residual spraying, as well as treatment options for those infected with malaria in a variety of environmental and financial scenarios.
By promoting the role of science in decision-making, "Reducing Malaria's Burden" seeks to assist health care providers and policy makers in putting critical research findings into context. According to Jeffrey Sachs, director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University, "This report makes amply clear that we have the means to reduce the burden of malaria dramatically. It provides powerful guidance on how to proceed with a greatly scaled-up effort to curtail the deadly impact of the disease."
"Reducing Malaria's Burden" was launched in Geneva at the annual meeting of the Global Forum for Health Research, an independent international foundation dedicated to helping correct the "10/90 gap" in health research. The "10/90 gap" refers to the fact that only 10 percent of the US$73 billion spent each year on health research worldwide is directed toward solving 90 percent of the world's health problems. This gap is even more severe in the case of malaria. Although malaria is the third leading cause of death for women and a major killer of children under five, the annual research budget for malaria is a scant US$100 million.
"We want to show the global community that, with greater commitment and political will, we can address the grave physical and economic suffering caused by malaria. However, these advances cannot be achieved on barely one-tenth of one percent of the global health research budget," said Daulaire. "Health decision makers must be at the forefront of putting research into action if the promise of a world in which malaria does not dictate the lives of millions is to be fulfilled. "
Click here to access the report.
View this Statement in PDF format: PDF (15K)
category: Global Health Council News : Announcements
contributed by Andrea Welch on 1 December 2003
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