A Compelling Need

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that at least 2.3 billion people are at risk for malaria and that between 300 and 500 million persons are currently infected.

Malaria causes the deaths of more than 2 million people every year--more than almost any other infectious disease. Over half of all malaria deaths are among children in sub-Saharan Africa, and malaria also takes a high toll on pregnant women and their fetuses.

Malaria has high economic and development costs as well. Children who recover from severe bouts of malaria remain subject to chronic ill health, debilitating re-infection, and, all too frequently, an associated profound economic deprivation throughout their lives. In rural areas, adults can lose 10 or more days of productivity during the rainy season due to malaria, and an unwieldy proportion of very limited income can be spent on malaria medicines.

The Malaria Network, a World Bank/WHO partnership, estimated that in 1997, malaria cost sub-Saharan Africa more than US $2 billion.

…Immunization is Key