Excellencies, honourable ministers, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
I am delighted to be launching this report here in the UK alongside Secretary of State Justine Greening. The UK has played a leading role in the fight against malaria.
Support has come from the government, the public, British business, nongovernmental organizations, and scientific research that has contributed so much to innovations. I would also like to thank the All Party Parliamentary Group on malaria and the neglected tropical diseases for hosting us today. I thank Malaria No More UK for their help in organizing this event.
We are here today to celebrate the taming of an ancient disease that, over the centuries, killed untold millions, sapped productivity, stifled development, and broke so many human hearts.
In the last decades of the previous century, malaria was rampant, killing more than a million people each year, mostly young children in sub-Saharan Africa.
Today, global malaria control ranks as one of the great public health success stories since the start of this century. New estimates published in the joint report by WHO and UNICEF show a 37% decline in malaria incidence and a 60% decline in malaria mortality rates worldwide since 2000.
These estimates provide convincing evidence that the MDG target for malaria has been met.
The report has more good news. Over the past 15 years, control measures for malaria averted 6.2 million deaths. Each one of these millions of lives saved is a reason to celebrate.
This success tells us that scaled-up delivery of core interventions brings results: insecticide-treated nets and indoor residual spraying for prevention, and rapid diagnostic tests and ACTs for treatment.
Increases in coverage have been dramatic. In Africa, the proportion of children sleeping under a treated net jumped from less than 2% in 2000 to an estimated 68% now.
Malaria has been tamed, but by no means defeated. For a disease like malaria, you can never tread water. You either surge ahead or you sink.
We know what to do, and we know where the greatest effort is needed. Countries in sub-Saharan Africa, malaria’s heartland, stubbornly account for 89% of malaria cases and 91% of deaths.
Again, let me thank the UK. Between 2008 and 2015, the government tripled its funding for malaria control, strategically targeting countries with intense transmission.
Earlier this year, the World Health Assembly adopted a WHO Global technical strategy for malaria, setting out a roadmap covering the next 15 years. The strategy sets out ambitious targets, including a 90% reduction in malaria incidence and mortality by the year 2030. To achieve these targets, annual funding for malaria will need to triple by 2030.
Sustained high-level support from major funders, such as the UK, the US, and the Global Fund, will be critically important, complementing the increased funding coming from endemic countries.
We look forward to continuing to work together with you here in the UK and with all partners in the malaria community as we enter a new and even more ambitious era.
Thank you.