25 April 2012 - Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called on countries to intensify their efforts to combat malaria, stressing that despite remarkable progress in recent years, much more needs to be done to end the “monumental tragedy” of one child dying every minute from the disease.
In his message to mark World Malaria Day, Mr. Ban highlighted the role international partnerships between governments, international agencies, donors, corporations and civil society organizations, among other actors, which have saved millions of lives through their work.
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Wednesday, 25 April 2012
Secretary-General Says ‘Monumental Tragedy’ That One Child Dies Every Minute from Malaria, But Hope Offered by Coalition That Has Saved More Than a Million Lives
23 April 2012
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| Department of Public Information • News and Media Division • New York |
Secretary-General Says ‘Monumental Tragedy’ That One Child Dies Every Minute from Malaria, But Hope Offered by Coalition That Has Saved More Than a Million Lives
Following is Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message on World Malaria Day, observed 25 April:
Last
year on World Malaria Day, we mourned the fact that one child died every
45 seconds from this disease. This year, we have managed to slow the
clock. It remains a monumental tragedy that one child dies every minute
from malaria, but we can draw some hope from the many lives saved
through international interventions.
More children are sleeping
safely under nets, more families are gathering in rooms protected from
mosquitoes, more communities have access to testing, and more patients
get the medicines they need to recover.
A global coalition has
boosted proven strategies, including long-lasting insecticidal nets,
indoor spraying, rapid diagnostic tests and anti-malaria medicines for
populations at risk.
Thanks to this remarkable
partnership bringing together Governments, international agencies,
donors, researchers, corporations, philanthropists and a range of civil
society organizations and concerned individuals.
Their efforts have saved
more than a million lives. Since 2000, malaria mortality rates have
fallen by more than a quarter globally, and by more than a third in
Africa.
Now is the time to push
for much greater progress. Achieving near zero malaria deaths is one of
key priorities in the action agenda I have established for the next
five years.
In our
world of plenty, there is no excuse for not making smart and affordable
investments in malaria interventions. A rapid diagnostic test costs
about 50 cents, while a course of an anti-malaria drug costs only about
$1. A bed net that lasts three years and can protect several children
costs approximately $5.
These are modest sums, and
we can lower costs even further if we fund research to find better
solutions. Even as we seek to prevent malaria deaths today, we must
invest in the next generation of anti-malaria tools to fight emerging
resistance and continue our drive towards a vaccine. We need to better
coordinate our efforts to test, treat and track the disease.
On this World Malaria Day,
let us collectively pledge to close the $3.2 billion funding gap to
achieve and maintain universal coverage in Africa up to 2015 — and
ultimately to reach our goal of defeating this disease
* *** *
WORLD MALARIA DAY 2012
In 2010, about 3.3 billion people - almost half of the world's
population - were at risk of malaria. Every year, this leads to about
216 million malaria cases and an estimated 655 000 deaths. People living
in the poorest countries are the most vulnerable.
World Malaria Day - which was instituted by the World Health Assembly at its 60th session in May 2007 - is a day for recognizing the global effort to provide effective control of malaria. It is an opportunity:
World Malaria Day - which was instituted by the World Health Assembly at its 60th session in May 2007 - is a day for recognizing the global effort to provide effective control of malaria. It is an opportunity:
- for countries in the affected regions to learn from each other's experiences and support each other's efforts;
- for new donors to join a global partnership against malaria;
- for research and academic institutions to flag their scientific advances to both experts and general public; and
- for international partners, companies and foundations to showcase their efforts and reflect on how to scale up what has worked.
Related links
World Intellectual Property Day 2012 – " Visionary Innovators "
World Intellectual Property Day is observed annually on 26 April. The event was established by the World Intellectual Property Organization
(WIPO) in 2000 to "raise awareness of how patents, copyright,
trademarks and designs impact on daily life" and "to celebrate
creativity, and the contribution made by creators and innovators to the development of societies across the globe". 26 April was chosen as this was the date on which the Convention Establishing the World Intellectual Property Organization entered into force in 1970.
Each year, a message or theme is associated with the event:
Each year, a message or theme is associated with the event:
- 2001 – Creating the Future Today
- 2002 – Encouraging Creativity
- 2003 – Make Intellectual Property Your Business
- 2004 – Encouraging Creativity
- 2005 – Think, Imagine, Create
- 2006 – It Starts With An Idea
- 2007 – Encouraging Creativity
- 2008 – Celebrating innovation and promoting respect for intellectual property
- 2009 – Green Innovation
- 2010 – Innovation – Linking the World
- 2011 – Designing the Future
- 2012 – Visionary Innovators
Australian GG Quentin Bryce's Anzac Day address
LEST WE FORGET
THE ODE...
They shall grow not old,
as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
ANZAC DAY 25th April
ANZAC DAY 2012 - Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia
THE ODE...
They shall grow not old,
as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
ANZAC DAY 25th April
ANZAC DAY 2012 - Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia
Tuesday, 24 April 2012
World Press Freedom Day 2012 in Palestine
World Press Freedom Day in Palestine: Strengthening Legal and Ethical Standards in a New Media Landscape
 Media professionals in Gaza receive protective vests and helmets distributed by UNESCO - © UNESCO |
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A one-day seminar to commemorate World Press Day will be held at the Birzeit University´s Law Institute in the West Bank on 2 May, and a second one will take place at the premises of Birzeit University´s Media Development Center in Gaza on 10 May. These local commemorations of World Press Freedom Day will focus on the theme “Legal and Ethical Framework for Journalism in Palestine: Challenges in a New Media Environment”. They are being organized by the Media Development Centre at Birzeit University with the support of UNESCO and Canal France International.
Palestinian journalists work in a volatile
context characterized by especially difficult circumstances. On the
occasion of World Press Freedom Day (WPFD), key actors in the media
field will be brought together to raise awareness about the obstacles to
freedom of expression in Palestine. They will discuss how to strengthen
the legal and regulatory framework to ensure the respect of the rights
of journalists and bloggers, guaranteeing their judiciary protection and
taking into consideration emerging issues in an increasingly
interconnected and fast evolving media landscape. Also at the core of
the debate will be the promotion of ethical journalistic standards, and
self-regulation mechanisms created and followed voluntarily by media
professionals.
Journalists and bloggers; media outlets owners,
editors and managers; representatives of professional associations;
academics and students; civil society practitioners; officials from
local and international public institutions are expected to join the
discussions in the West Bank and Gaza.
Key media stakeholders have contributed to the
development of the agenda of the celebration of World Press Freedom Day
in Palestine, including WAFA news agency, Ma’an news agency, Palestine
TV, I’lam Media Center in Nazareth, the Palestinian Journalists
Syndicate in Ramallah and the Government Media Center.
Speakers at the event in the West Bank will include
renowned international and local media experts like Toby Mendel,
Executive Director of the Centre for Law and Democracy (Canada); Aref
Hijjawi, former Head of Programmes at Al Jazeera (Qatar); Raed Othman,
Director of Ma’an News Agency (Palestine); Waleed Shurafa, Head of the
Media Department at Birzeit University (Palestine), and Ghasan
Al-Khataib, Director of the Government Media Centre (Palestine).
The concept note prepared by Birzeit University's Media Development Center for WPFD in Palestine is available here, and the agenda for the event in the West Bank can be accessed here. More information about the seminar in Gaza will be made available soon.
UNESCO is supporting the WPFD celebrations in the West Bank and Gaza within the framework of a broader agreement with Canal France International focused on supporting media in countries in transition or affected by conflict.
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