MMalaia 23183 at a glance Why tackle malaria? A High Proportion of Program Benefits Accrue to the Poorest 20% of the World's Population Malaria is endemic to the poorest countries in the Percentage of deaths from disease thaf P Disease occuriamonatherporest 20% of the tfal world, causing 300 to 500 million clinical cases and globaloatn more than one million deaths each year. More than Malaria 57.9% 90% of malaria deaths occur in Sub-Saharan Africa Childhood Diseases 55.0% (approximately 3,000 deaths each day), and almost Diarrheal Diseases 53.2% all the deaths are children younger than 5. In Sub- Perinatal Conditions 45.0% Saharan Africa, 15% of all disability-adjusted life-years Tuberculosis 44.4% (DALYs) are lost to malaria. In highly endemic Maternal Conditions 43.2% countries, malaria during pregnancy is a leading cause Respiratory Infections 42.6% coutres wigh, neofHIV/AIDS 48.6% of low birth weight, one of the primary causes of weighted Average 48% neonatal mortality. Women living in endemic countries are four times more likely to have symptomatic malaria Davidon R. Gwatkin, May 1999 attacks when they are pregnant. W hat can be done to reduce Over the last two decades, morbidity and mortality malaria morbidity and mortality? from malaria have been increasing due to deteriorat- Roll Back Malaria ing health systems, growing drug and insecticide resistance, periodic changes in weather patterns, civil The global partnership to Roll Back Malaria (RBM) unrest, human migration, and population displacement, was jointly founded by WHO, UNICEF, World Bank, and UNDP in 1998 with the objective of halving the Malaria disproportionately affects poor people. Rural malaria burden world-wide by the year 2010. This populations carry the overwhelming burden of disease. goal can only be a.chieved if all actors (e.g., govern- People living in poor quality housing are particularly at ments, private sector, industry, NGOs and communi- risk. Poor people are at greater risk of complications ties) and all sectors (e.g., health, education, and death, because their access to effective treatment agriculture r, and infrastructure) engage and is so limited. Malaria also contributes to poverty by participate in malaria control activities. This is at the reducing the productivity of infected people and their core of RBM's approach. caretakers. Households spend significant sums (US$ The Core Strategies for RBM were selected because 0.39 to 3.84/capita per year in Sub-Saharan Africa) of their proven efficacy and effectiveness, their poten- to prevent and treat malaria. tial as sustainable interventions, and their demon- The table below shows that approximately 60% of all strated cost-effectiveness (