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Optimism over malaria plans

03/10/2008

Health leaders have expressed hope that a new World Health Organisation (WHO) initiative will help to control and eradicate malaria on a global scale.

The Rolling Back Malaria scheme, announced at a United Nations millennium development goal meeting in New York last month, hopes to reduce the number of worldwide malaria deaths to virtually zero by 2015.

It is estimated that the $62 billion (£35 billion) initiative could save up to 4.2 million lives in the 20 worst-affected African countries.

"The plan lays out three goals to reduce malaria: in the short-term, to reduce mortality and morbidity by half from 2000 levels by scaling up the available methods of prevention and treatment for all those in need by 2010; in the medium term, to reduce the number of malaria deaths to near zero by 2015 through sustained coverage of these tools; and in the long-term, to maintain near zero deaths worldwide, while eliminating malaria transmission in feasible countries and moving towards eradication of malaria with new tools and approaches," an editorial in today's edition of the Lancet states.

"The plan is far more comprehensive than previous versions. It provides an evidence-informed approach to deliver effective prevention and treatment to those at risk."

But the editorial states that there is a risk the plan has 'set the bar too high', with previous initiatives "grossly underfunded".

"The decisions taken in New York last week have created an unprecedented opportunity, one that must be grasped firmly by all parties," it concludes.