- The envoy leading United Nations efforts against malaria has praised one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies for its plan to open up its database to scientists in hopes of promoting research to help combat the deadly disease.
GlaxoSmithKline announced yesterday its decision to freely disseminate information on more than 13,500 chemical compounds with malaria-fighting capabilities.
Raymond Chambers, the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Malaria, praised the move calling it a “revolutionary nexus between the corporate and humanitarian worlds” that “will undoubtedly catalyse research and development and ensure a competitive marketplace.”
According to UN data, malaria kills a child every 30 seconds.
In a statement released yesterday, Mr Chambers said GlaxoSmithKline’s decision would accelerate intervention and “directly translate into more lives saved.”
Of the nearly half a billion people infected with the malaria parasite each year, about 1 million die. Nearly 90 percent of cases are in Africa.
In April 2008, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon set a timetable for comprehensive malaria control in Africa by the end of 2010.
“With just one year remaining until the Secretary-General’s deadline to ensure universal access to malaria control interventions, I’m extremely grateful for GlaxoSmithKline’s commitment," Mr Chambers said.
Combating malaria is also one of the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) set by the world’s leaders in 2000, for which the countdown to 2015 – when they are supposed to be achieved – is ticking.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.
front page
| news
| countries
| archive
| currencies
| news alerts login
| about afrol News
| contact
| advertise
| español