By: Mark Green, Malaria No More
The World Health Organization’s 2010 World Malaria Report confirms the simple truth that gets me out of bed every morning and into work as a malaria advocate: while malaria is still a terrible killer, it is also completely preventable and treatable.
This year’s World Malaria Report shows that cases of malaria declined by 18 million and deaths caused by malaria declined by 82,000 worldwide. In 2009, there were 243 million cases of malaria, and malaria caused 781,000 deaths. That’s a drop in malaria deaths of nearly 10% in just one year. Now that’s something worth celebrating!
The idea of ending malaria deaths — of breaking the disease’s death grip in too many parts of Africa – is no longer a pipe dream.
But to get there, progress must be accelerated. Without sustained funding, all of the gains we have achieved could be lost. The news today brings much hope, but of course there’s so much work yet to be done. It is a tragedy that three-quarters of a million people die from a disease that is entirely preventable and treatable. This is a crisis that we know how to solve, but we must have the will.
People ask me all the time if the money we spend in Africa is making any difference at all. They see the images of malnourished children and hear the stories of conflict and corruption.
This year’s report gives us evidence that it is, but behind all of these stats are countless stories of individuals persevering in the face of malaria. These stories would not be possible without leadership and resources from all corners of the globe. This report demonstrates just how many of these new success stories are being written.
Mark Green serves as the Malaria Policy Center’s Managing Director. Mark Green joined the Malaria Policy Center after his tenure as United States Ambassador to the United Republic of Tanzania. Prior to serving as ambassador, Mark served four terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. He was a member of the House Judiciary and International Relations Committees, and served as an Assistant Majority Whip. He has also written for End the Neglect in the past.