Unite Against Malaria - Together We Can Beat Malaria

Southern African countries and their RBM partners are committed to spearhead the 2005 Africa Malaria Day campaign. Zambia was chosen to host the 2005 Africa Malaria Day regional event on the 25th April 2005. Governments in collaboration with RBM partners are in the process of preparing for the 2005 Africa Malaria Day campaign.

The slogan selected for this year’s Africa Malaria Day is “Together we can all beat malaria” and the theme is “Unite against Malaria”.

To highlight the gravity of the malaria situation on the African continent, the African Heads of state and Government, meeting in Abuja, Nigeria, on 25 April 2000, made a historic Declaration to commemorate Africa Malaria Day (AMD) on 25 April each year. In line with this Abuja Declaration, countries of the region have held annual commemorations of the AMD. The commemoration of AMD this year is important in that it marks the review for the mid term Abuja targets.

This year’s AMD theme is designed to bring malaria stakeholders’ commitment and unity for malaria control action towards the Abuja targets. The theme focuses on the need for unity and coherence among all stakeholders in the fight against malaria and urges governments and RBM partners to vigorously promote the AMD campaign in order to raise community knowledge and awareness on malaria and its control.

In order to ensure that the AMD campaign is successful, malaria stakeholders are called upon to support the planning and implementation of the AMD campaign. SADC leaders, community health workers, the military, private sector and all those involved in malaria control and prevention should mobilize communities and resources at all levels towards malaria control. Local artists and musicians should show their talent in educating the people on the dangers of malaria and its control. National authorities and RBM partners from Southern Africa should commence preparations for AMD taking into considerations the lessons learned and experiences from the previous AMD commemorative events. At the regional level, political leaders and malaria stakeholders are invited to support and participate in the launch of the AMD campaign on the 25th April 2005, in Lusaka, Zambia.

Aims for Africa Malaria Day 2005

	Mobilize community actions in the prevention, treatment and control of malaria.
	Highlight the role of malaria partners in the prevention and control of malaria.

Objectives

	To mobilize Heads of State to support and to promote policies that provide access to affordable malaria control interventions;
	To raise malaria awareness at global, regional, country and at community level;
	To encourage the full participation of political leaders and RBM partners to unite against malaria;
	To reinforce key messages and approaches that can be used to promote malaria control;

Burden of malaria in Southern Africa

Malaria is a major cause of morbidity, mortality and poverty in Southern Africa. Out of 139 million people living in Southern Africa, approximately 63% live in malaria areas. It is estimated that about 300 000 deaths occur annually in Southern Africa and about 13 687 000 children under five years old and 3, 302 600 pregnant women are at risk of malaria. In unstable malaria transmission countries; Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland and Zimbabwe all age groups are at risk of getting malaria whilst in stable malaria transmission countries; Angola, Comoros, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia, children under-five years and pregnant women are at greatest risk of malaria.

THEME: Unite against malaria: SLOGAN: Together we can beat malaria

This year’s theme calls for:

Government policy-makers, program managers and coordinators in ministries of education, health, population, religion, women, youth and community and social welfare should actively support the fight against malaria. NGOs and other malaria partners are called upon to provide the necessary support in portraying messages for malaria control. Community leaders such as religious, traditional and political leaders, and other influential leaders are also called upon to support and to participate in the preparations of the 2005 AMD campaign. The media is called upon to issue press releases on AMD and to produce documentaries and place advertisements and editorials in local newspapers, Radio, TV and other publications.

Malaria is a life threatening disease, which is transmitted from person to person through the bite of a female Anopheles mosquito. However, malaria is preventable and curable. Children and pregnant women are at risk of malaria and are to be protected from malaria by using insecticide-treated mosquito nets and by seeking malaria treatment early when having flu-like symptoms.

LET US UNITE AGAINST MALARIA AND BEAT MALARIA OUT OF AFRICA

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