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Roll Back Malaria partnership calls for more investment to fight the disease
25.04.2013 08:02 "Agro Perspectiva" (Kyiv) —
While malaria deaths have dropped by more than 25 per cent over the past decade, the recent global economic downturn could threaten this progress.
Thats according to the Roll Back Malaria Partnership which is calling for countries to «Invest in the Future: Defeat Malaria» on World Malaria Day, observed on 25 April.
The global health initiative says over $5 billion annually is required for malaria control globally, but available funds amount to less than half this figure.
«Investment in getting rid of malaria will help countries improve their economic performance, and with improved economic performance we hope to reduce inequities so people have more jobs, better employment, better livelihood, in a way. So investing into the future is also investing not just to get rid of malaria, but to improve livelihoods of people,» Roll Back Malaria Partnership representative Dr. Thomas Teuscher admits.
The Roll Back Malaria Partnership says interventions to control the disease are not only cost-effective but also accelerate progress in other health and development goals such as improving maternal and child health.
It cites new data which suggests that every dollar invested in malaria in Africa generates nearly $50 in return.
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