850,000 people die every year from malaria: Unicef
New York: About 850,000 people die each year from a mosquito bite - with nearly 90 percent of all malaria deaths in sub-Saharan Africa, the UN Children`s Fund (Unicef) said Friday.
Ahead of World Malaria Day Sunday, Unicef Executive Director Ann Veneman said there were only 250 days left to meet the challenge set by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for all endemic countries to ensure universal coverage of malaria control interventions.
Unicef said there has been a significant increase in insecticide-treated bed net coverage in several African countries, with distribution campaigns reaching those most in danger of contracting malaria - the poor and rural populations.
But these campaigns needed to be expanded, along with the increased use of Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies to treat patients.
"The fight against malaria can be won and now the world must unite to ensure that no one dies from a mosquito bite," Veneman said.
IANS
First Published: Saturday, April 24, 2010, 00:00
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