Brazzaville, 30 April 2003 -- The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, Dr Ebrahim Samba, has commended organizations in the Roll Back Malaria (RBM) partnership for their role in the fight against malaria in the African Region. 
Speaking on his return to Brazzaville, after the commemoration of Africa Malaria Day and the launch of Africa Malaria Report 2003 in Nairobi, Kenya, Dr Samba expressed appreciation for the re-energized commitment of the global malaria control community to the fight against malaria.

During his stay in Kenya, the Regional Director visited Kirinyaga District, in the country's Central Province, where he reiterated the importance of ensuring that the most vulnerable groups-- young children and pregnant women--were protected from malaria.

He stated that slow but definite progress was being registered in malaria control in many countries of the Region and expressed optimism that the Targets set at the 2000 Abuja Summit on Roll Back Malaria would be achieved by 2005.

He emphasized the importance of building partnerships among communities, parliamentarians, and the private and the health sectors, in order to develop sustainable mechanisms to combat malaria, and ensure that solidarity and equitable sharing of resources were the guiding principles of effective health systems.

He also spoke of significant inflow of new resources for malaria control activities from the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, illustrating the point with the $220 million earmarked by the Fund for disbursement over the next two years to 22 countries in the African Region.

These resources would be deployed to expand and extend the coverage of major interventions related to: access to prompt and effective treatment for malaria; provision of insecticide treated mosquito nets; prevention of malaria in pregnancy; early detection and effective response to malaria epidemics.

Dr Samba called upon countries of the Region to work closely with their local communities and national and international partners to make immediate and effective use of these additional resources to make a difference in the lives of African children and pregnant women suffering from the scourge of malaria.

For further information, please contact: 
Dr. M. Robalo - Malaria Regional Advisor
Email:robalom [at] whoafr.org 
Tel: +(263) 4 746000 or 746011
Division of Communicable Disease Prevention and Control
Malaria Unit
P.O. Box BE773
Belvedere
Harare, Zimbabwe
OR
Public Information and Communication Unit 
Tel: 47 241  39378 
Fax : + 47 241 39513

World Health Organization - Regional Office for Africa 
P.O. Box 6, Brazzaville, Congo