Governments, Private Sector Must Continue To Support Malaria Control During Economic Downturn, UN Envoy Says
Malaria control efforts will fail if governments and big business cut spending during the economic downturn, United Nations Special Envoy for Malaria Ray Chambers said on Monday at the launch of Malaria NO More UK at 10 Downing Street, the London Times reports. Chambers, who "masterminded some of the biggest private equity deals of the 1980s," called for "extreme vigilance" and said that the private sector should play a significant role in combating malaria, the Times reports.
"There is a need to continue donations-more now than ever before-because if that support does not continue malaria will just spiral," Chambers said. "We will lose a real chance to make a difference. We need to talk to the private sector and make the best use of the money that is received," he said.
Malaria No More UK is the British extension of the charity that Chambers cofounded. Its goal is to ensure that the British government meets it promise to deliver a part of 100 million insecticide-treated nets, which were pledged by the Group of Eight industrialized nations. Britain has already delivered 9.7 million ITNs to Africa and it is set to donate an additional 1.9 million (Lister, Times, 4/21).
Two Year Malaria Prevention Campaign Launched in Uganda
HIMA Cement recently launched a two year 500 million shilling-about $230,400-community malaria prevention campaign in Uganda's Kasese district at the Hima Health Centre, New Vision reports. The campaign is expected to benefit at least 28,000 people who reside in the town of Hima (Nzinjah, New Vision, 4/20).
Chevron Donates $5M To Combat Malaria in Angola
Chevron Cabinda Gulf Oil Company plans to donate about $5 million to the health ministry to fight malaria in Angola, Ana Ruth, the company's medical department director, said on Monday at a malaria awareness event ahead of World Malaria Day, ANGOP reports. The money will be distributed by the Global Fund To Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (ANGOP, 4/20 [1]). At the event, Carlos Masseca, the deputy minister of health, said that malaria is the leading cause of absenteeism from school and work in Angola (ANGOP, 4/20 [2]).
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