Secretary-General Hails Efforts by African Leaders Malaria Alliance,

 

Calling for Similar Model in Battling Other Diseases

 

Following are UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s remarks at the African Leaders Malaria Alliance event in Addis Ababa, today, 31 January:

I thank my Special Envoy for Malaria, Ray Chambers, for bringing us together at this important event and for being such a powerful advocate for this cause.

This alliance against malaria is stopping the disease and saving thousands of lives.  It is a great success story.  You are bringing us closer to our Millennium Development Goal on malaria and showing how we can reach all the Millennium Development Goals:  with commitment at the highest level.

Just last month, the World Health Organization announced that malaria deaths declined by 10 per cent between 2008 and 2009.  In 11 African countries, the disease’s deadly toll has been cut by more than half since the year 2000.  We also got this far by giving African countries the supplies they need to fight the disease.

Just as malaria is carried by a mosquito that goes from person to person, so does our campaign seek to reach people just as directly.  We want to give every community health worker, every family, every child the tools and protection they need.  We’ve delivered over 290 million nets to Africa since 2008.  More nets and treatments are on their way.  Universal coverage is not just a hope; it is within our reach.

I thank Africa’s leaders for working toward this goal.  The African Leaders Malaria Alliance is breaking down barriers, forging partnerships and getting supplies to families in record time.  This is remarkable progress.  We need to encourage it and use the response to malaria as a model for battling other illnesses and social ills.

As long as children are dying from this preventable disease, we cannot rest.  The African Leaders Malaria Alliance has my full support as we enter the next phase in the battle to create a better future for Africa’s children.

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For information media • not an official record