22 April 2003 -- The Director of Medical Services for Kenya, Dr. Richard Muga, together with Roll Back Malaria partners, today briefed the media about the forthcoming Africa Malaria Day to be commemorated on 25 April 2003.

As part of the commemoration, the first progress report on malaria control and prevention in Africa will be officially launched.

Dr. Muga said malaria accounted for 30 percent of the burden of disease in Kenya. Stressing that malaria is a development problem that needs collaborative efforts, Dr. Muga appreciated the support from RBM partners, which he said had gone a long way in strengthening the health systems in Kenya.

Kenya's President, Mwai Kibaki, is expected to officially launch the joint WHO/UNICEF Africa Malaria Progress Report during the commemoration of this year's Africa Malaria Day at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre on Friday.

Addressing the journalists and RBM partners, Dr Peter Eriki, WHO Representative for Kenya, urged the media to continue playing a pivotal role in the fight to control and prevent malaria, a disease that is claiming millions of lives in Africa every year.

Dr Eriki said the media had a critical role to play in moving the malaria control agenda throughout the African continent, particularly in the 44 malaria-endemic countries.

He said one of the crucial challenges in the fight against malaria was the creation of awareness of the disease problem and its impact on the economy on individuals, communities and nations.

"This is a war we can and must win by any means necessary. In this war, you, the media people, have a critical role to play and we know you will not fail us," said Dr Eriki.

Dr Eriki said the fight against malaria should continue to gain a renewed momentum in Africa after several decades of low prioritization. "We should not allow thousands of our people to die from a disease that can be prevented and cured," he said.

He said Africa Malaria Day provides an opportunity for leaders to reflect and do some stocktaking of the progress made in the fight against malaria.

Other partners present who also briefed the media included: UNICEF, USAID, DFID, CDC/KEMRI and PSI.

For more information please contact 
WHO Kenya Country Office
P.O. Box 45335, Nairobi 
Tel: 254 - 2 - 2717902, Fax: 254 - 2 - 271941/2 
E-mail:  who [at] whokenya.org