On several occasions, States have outlined their commitment to combat Malaria and other diseases. The need to halt and begin to reverse the incidence of Malaria and other major diseases is highlighted as a major target of Goal 6 of the Millennium Development Goals. This goal was reaffirmed recently by the participants of the International Colloquium on Women's Empowerment, Leadership Development, International Peace and Security, who called for urgent investment to support young people in the achievement of the MDGs.

The States' commitment was also reinforced at a regional level, where they agreed in the Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa in 2004, to implement both the Abuja and Maputo Declarations on Malaria.

More specifically, they consent to accelerate the implementation of gender specific economic, social, and legal measures by ensuring that treatment and social services are available to women at the local level.

To make it more responsive to the needs of families that are providing care, the governments have to increase budgetary allocations in these sectors.
They also resolve that at least 60% of those suffering from Malaria would have prompt access to correct, affordable and appropriate treatments.

Malaria is both a preventable and curable disease. It is especially a serious problem in Africa, where one in every five (20%) childhood deaths is due to the effects of the disease.

An African child has on average between 1.6 and 5.4 episodes of Malaria fever each year and every 30 seconds a child dies from it. It has been demonstrated that in most endemic areas pregnant women and their unborn children are particularly vulnerable to Malaria, which is a major cause of perinatal mortality, low birth weight and maternal anaemia. It is responsible for about one third of preventable low birth weight babies and contributes to the deaths of an estimated 10 000 pregnant women and up to 200 000 infants each year in Africa. Read More »