Celebrating World Malaria Day
Today we celebrate the amazing results of the last 16 year fight against malaria. World Malaria Day commemorates the date in 2000, when 44 African leaders met in Nigeria and committed their countries to reducing malaria-related deaths.
Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. In 2015, 91 countries had ongoing malaria transmission. Malaria is preventable and curable, and increased efforts are dramatically reducing the malaria burden in many places
Let’s Close the Gap
Between 2010 and 2015, malaria incidence among populations at risk (the rate of new cases) fell by 21% globally. In that same period, malaria mortality rates among populations at risk fell by 29% globally
among all age groups, and by 35% among children under 5. Sub-Saharan Africa carries a disproportionately high share of the global malaria burden. In 2015, the region was home to 90% of malaria cases and 92% of malaria deaths
In addition to the 44 African leaders who pledged to take this path in 2000, Asian leaders have joined the fight. Dozens of global partners have contributed funds, staff, supplies, and expertise to enable us to achieve these amazing results: the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the US government, the UK government, millions of individuals who have donated to the many non-governmental agencies working to end malaria.
